School choice and Ohio's interdistrict open enrollment policy.

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of Ohio's interdistrict open enrollment policy as a public school choice option. The analysis includes why districts decided to be open or closed to the enrollment of students from adjacent districts, the demographics of open and closed districts as well as districts that gained or lost funds as a result of interdistrict open enrollment in the 1996-97 school year, the use of public relations in interdistrict open enrollment, and the implications of permitting districts to expand open enrollment to students from any Ohio school district. Findings based on data from open and closed district surveys, demographic information from Ohio's Educational Management Informations System (EMIS), a funding gains/losses database developed by Dr. David Ruggles (1997), and an Ohio Legislative Office of Education Oversight report (1998) indicate the primary reason districts decided to be open was that open enrollment provided a source of additional funds. The primary reasons a district decided to be closed was the lack of space for any additional students. Open districts, including those who gained funds from open enrollment, were typically lower in average daily membership, percentage of minority students, revenue per pupil, and expense per pupil than closed districts and all districts that lost funds. Districts did no aggressively compete with one another for students. The conclusions provide a framework to evaluate Ohio's interdistrict open enrollment policy with regard to components of the policy including funding, voluntary district decision, opportunity, and equity; effectiveness of the policy including its use as a reform strategy; and the impact of expanding open enrollment options.