Page 12 - The Edge - Fall 2017

SUMMER CONFERENCE WRAPUP

BY DON HARRIS

Choice, ‘Charter School Onslaught,’ Make

Planning Di cult for District Schools

Rick Brammer

Rick Brammer of Applied Economics painted a grim picture understanding each district’s goals. “Not one size ts all,” he
for district schools facing sti competition from charters, said.
private and parochial schools and the state’s expanding Districts should also understand current characteristics
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program. And it all and likely trends, tie near-term decisions to budgets, sta ng,
revolves around choice. facilities and transportation, and consider facility additions and
In a breakout session at AASBO’s Summer Conference closures.
and Expo, Brammer discussed four key areas of choice: intra- Regarding the school age population, Brammer said, “How
district open enrollment (enrolling in another school in the many of those kids are you actually going to serve?” Prior to
district); inter-district open enrollment (enrolling in another charter schools, 95 percent of the children in a district went to
district); charter schools; and private schools, aided by ESAs. district schools. “Today, only 66 percent of the kids in a district
Education choice impacts district schools in several ways, go where you would expect them to go,” he said.
including enrollment, nance, sta ng, facilities, transportation,
programs and administration. e key, Brammer said, is CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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