From the Philadelphia Bulletin
Parents Camp Out For School Choice
By Chris Freind, The Bulletin, 11/04/2008
Brandywine Hundred, Del. - Parents began lining up as early as 2 p.m. Sunday to enroll their children in a limited number of school choice slots in the Brandywine School District. About three dozen parents were waiting by late Sunday evening for the offices to open yesterday morning, braving cold temperatures and sleeping on the ground in order to be at the front of the line when the doors opened.
With school closings and new grade configurations in the district, new feeder patterns are being drawn to accommodate the changes. Even parents already participating in the choice program had to re-enroll.
Delaware has statewide public-to-public school choice, whereby students are permitted to attend any public school in the state, on a space-available basis, upon meeting disciplinary, academic and attendance requirements. No out-of-pocket expenses are incurred by parents.
Despite numerous legislative efforts to enact school choice in Pennsylvania, there is no comprehensive choice program in the state.
Parents in the commonwealth can send their children to the public school of their choice, on a space-available basis, but they are required to pay any difference in per-pupil costs. For example, the cost per student in the Haverford Township School District is $12,800, so if parents wanted to send their child to the Rose Tree Media district, with a per pupil cost of $17,200, the parents would have to pay the $3,400 difference.
In nationwide ratings, Pennsylvania ranks seventh in average teacher salaries and 12th in per -pupil spending, yet is 46th in SAT scores.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chris Freind can be reached at CF@TheBulletin.us
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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1 comment:
With the patented "Field-Based Learning System", your children are always camping out for school. Because the campground is their school. They are one in the same. Synonymous, if you will!
With the patented "Field-Based Learning System", the sky's the limit for your little perv-, er I mean precious, ones. In fact, the sky's the ceiling too!
With the patented "Field-Based Learning System", your child's field of study really is your child's field of study!
The gang's all here, so act now, and get the patented "Field-Based Learning System", where, when we farm you out, we really farm you out!
Operators are sitting by.
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