Policy Research

A Spatial Model of School District Open Enrollment Choice

David Brasington, Alfonso Flores-Lagunes, Ledia Guci

Summary

Ohio allows its school districts to decide whether to adopt inter-district open enrollment policies. The authors find that demographic characteristics, availability of district funds, ability to generate new funding, and competition from private schools are the most important factors in a school district deciding to allow open enrollment.

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Policy Implications

If policy makers in voluntary open enrollment states want to encourage open enrollment, they should encourage school district consolidation. Another reliable way to encourage open enrollment is decreasing teachers’ salaries, but this is rarely a politically viable option.