This study is a review of open-enrollment charter school laws in the State of Texas to document how needs of students in special education are addressed in accordance with Texas charter school statutes and practices. It includes a background on charter schools in Texas, a survey report of key special education personnel directly involved with…

Our 31st annual report analyzing data from southeast Wisconsin's public school districts finds that while 68 of the 92 school districts are exceeding or significantly exceeding expectations on our new state report cards, there are large achievement gaps across the region on state assessments for low-income students and students of color. Key…

Our 32nd annual report analyzing data from southeast Wisconsin's public school districts finds progress on some college readiness indicators and largely positive showings on district report cards. Those results are offset, however, by discouraging results on standardized tests and continued substantial achievement gaps between students of…

For the last 30 years, the Public Policy Forum has collected and analyzed education data to produce an annual report on the demographics, academic performance, and finances of public school districts in southeast Wisconsin. In the three decades of producing this report, few years have exhibited as much change and transformation as this one. The…

Participants at an issues clarification working session concerning open enrollment for students with disabilities identified three kinds of issues for districts and students: outcome, implementation, and demographic. Participants expressed concerns in the areas of pupil benefit, parent involvement (or convenience), teacher/administrator job…

With the recent increase in the number of students wishing to enter vocational programs and the increased pressure on accountability and efficiency, vocational educators need to reexamine their policies regarding the selection and admission of students. Several considerations that complicate these decisions are (1) open-door policies that exist in…

This report examines the development of school choice policies as an element of educational reform, describes open enrollment as one form of school choice, outlines other types of school choice programs, describes Minnesota's various forms of educational choice, explores arguments for and against choice, and discusses issues and concerns for…

This paper discusses implications of open enrollment polices for students with disabilities and for districts that gain or lose students with disabilities through transfer. An introductory section examines how open enrollment differs from other "choice" options and offers general arguments for and against open enrollment. The remainder of the…

The expectations of parents of students with disabilities who transferred schools through an open enrollment option were examined in this qualitative study. In-depth interviews were conducted with parents of 18 children and adolescents who transferred their child through Minnesota's open enrollment law. Interviews addressed: the student's history…

This qualitative study examined the impact of open enrollment policies in Minnesota on eight school districts with larger than average transfers of students with disabilities. A series of case studies investigated implementation issues, effects on special education programs, effects on decision making in funding and planning, perceptions and…