School Choice Program

Tewksbury Township School District

1

What is School Choice

The program is designed to increase educational opportunities for students and their families by providing students with the option of attending a public school outside their district of residence without cost to their parents.

2

Why School Choice?

Provides additional educational options to parents.

Provides for a greater amount of diversity in school populations.

Counters declining enrollment trends. Provides additional revenue to receiving

school districts. The potential expansion of specialized

programs.

3

Choice School Feedback

Feedback from Gateway Regional School DistrictAs a small district with less than 1,000 students, welcoming choice students has allowed the continuation of a wide range of academic courses and extracurricular activities. Choice funding has enabled Gateway to increase the integration of technology in classrooms and provide additional support services for students in need. The blending of varied education and cultural experiences from both choice and resident students has created a diverse environment for the entire Gateway community.

Steven Hindman, Principal, Gateway Regional High School

TTSD

4

Choice School Feedback

Feedback from South Hunterdon Regional School District:

We sought tuition students, knowing we had a lot to offer, but we think prospective parents found the dual requirements of paying tuition and transporting their children daunting. By moving aid to receiving districts and helping with transportation costs, School Choice removed two significant barriers for parents seeking alternatives for their kids. We were thrilled to finally open our nurturing educational haven to more of the state’s young people! And thanks to School Choice, all of our students are now members of a diverse learning community that that more closely approximates the global reality.

• Marie Collins, South Hunterdon Regional High School District Board Member

TTSD

5

TTSD 6

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

K 58 58 58

1 60 58 58

2 64 60 58

3 61 64 60

4 69 61 64

5 82 69 61

6 82 82 69

7 93 82 82

8 84 93 82

Totals 653 627 592

Enrollment Projections

7

Three Year Plan: Number of Seats

8

Grade Level

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

K 2 2 2

1 10 10 10

2 1 1 1

3 10 10 1

4 10 10 5

5 5 10 10

6 5 2 5

7 2 5 5

8 5 1 5

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

K 60 60 60

1 70 70 70

2 65 71 71

3 71 75 72

4 79 81 80

5 87 89 91

6 87 89 94

7 95 92 94

8 89 96 97

Totals 703 723 729

Three Year Plan: Choice Enrollment

9

N0 Choice Vs. Choice10

CLASS SIZES

THREE YEAR PERIOD

School Choice 11

Three Year Plan: Class Sizes12

Grade Level

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

K (3 Sec.) 20 (3 Sec.) 20 (3 Sec.) 201 (4 Sec.) 17.5 (4 Sec.) 17.5 (4 Sec.) 17.52 (3 Sec.) 21.7 (3 Sec.) 23.7 (3 Sec.) 23.73 (4 Sec.) 17.8 (4 Sec.) 18.8 (4 Sec.) 184 (4 Sec.) 19.8 (4 Sec.) 20.3 (4 Sec.) 205 (5 Sec.) 17.4 (5 Sec.) 17.8 (5 Sec.) 18.2

6 (5 Sec.) 17.4 (5 Sec.) 17.8 (5 Sec.) 18.8

7 (5 Sec.) 19 (5 Sec.) 18.4 (5 Sec.) 18.8

8 (5 Sec.) 17.8 (5 Sec.) 19.2 (5 Sec.) 19.4

2013/14 2014/15 2015/16

K 2 2 2

1 10 12 12

2 1 11 13

3 10 11 12

4 10 20 16

5 5 20 30

6 5 7 25

7 2 10 12

8 5 3 15

Totals 50 96 137

Three Year Plan: Choice Students Per Grade Level

13

Percentage of Choice Students14

7.1%

Three Year Plan: Potential Revenue15

Funding calculated using the adequacy budget local levy per pupil amount divided by the resident enrollment.

Acceptance Process

There must be existing space in the grade or program to be entered.

Student must reside in the 20 mile radius.

Review of educational records / IEPs.Review of disciplinary records. Determine the desire on the part of the

student and the student’s parent(s)/ guardian(s) to attend.

16

Public Information Process

Nov. 1, 2012 to Jan. 15, 2013 • Develop application procedures and brochures• Board approved policy and regs• Choice web page and open house

Jan. 15, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2013 • Press release• Application process begins

February, 2013 • Application process continues •Parent tours of schools•Web page updated with FAQs

March to June, 2013 • Final application processing

June to August, 2013 • New student orientation

17

Challenges18

Some marketing costs. Time spent on the application process. Time spent on administering the student

selection process. Time spent on advertising and orientation

programs. Meeting the needs of an increasingly

diverse school population. Transportation logistics.

Summary19

Provides the Tewksbury SD with an option to the declining enrollment trend.

Increases the diversity of the school population.

Helps to promote Tewksbury as an exemplary school district.

Provides for significant additional revenue.

DR. JIM GAMBLEINTERIM SUPERINTENDENT

TEWKSBURY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

20

Thank you!