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Newark Enrolls: A Principled Approach To Public School Choice, Kimberly Austin, Lucero Batista, Mahua Bisht, Andrew Karas, Jesse Margolis, Andy Sonnesyn

Center for Public Research and Leadership

Over the last 40 years, states and districts have increased choice among public schools through the creation of magnet, charter, and other specialized schools and through district-led open enrollment processes, among other approaches. These efforts, however, have at times created new inequities.

Families with greater access to information about schools and enrollment deadlines and those with more time and capacity to complete and submit applications are in a better position to exercise choice more effectively. Families also use whatever personal connections they have to help their children secure a seat in high-demand schools, which benefits some families more than others. …