OUT AND UP:

N.J. eyes expanded school choice: The program allows children to attend schools outside their home districts. In South Jersey, 5 districts take part. (Rita Giordano, 12/20/09, Philadelphia Inquirer)

With a governor-elect who has vowed to support more educational options, attention has turned toward a little-known program that lets families send their children to schools outside their home district.

Known as the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, it started in 2000 as a five-year pilot. The state Board of Education readopted the program's regulations Wednesday to keep it operating in its current form. It is in 15 districts statewide, including five in South Jersey, and last school year served a little more than 900 students.

Those numbers could grow substantially if the Legislature embraces a proposal to expand the program and make it permanent. [....]

Christie supports interdistrict choice as long as the receiving district is a willing participant, he said.

"It was one of the areas of school choice that I endorsed during the campaign," Christie said. "I believe that we should strengthen that, along with a lot of other areas of school choice, like charter schools and vouchers."

In its nine years, the interdistrict program has received good reviews from the districts and families who have taken part, said Rochelle Hendricks, state assistant education commissioner for district and school improvement.

"I think it has tremendous potential as a reasonable choice option for families," Hendricks said.

If you want to help black kids you have to elect conservative Republicans.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 20, 2009 9:16 AM