MOUNT VERNON — Students in Knox County, and across Ohio, have the opportunity to choose where they want to receive their public education. The Ohio Department of Education has adopted an open enrollment policy which enables families to enroll their students, tuition free, in participating school districts. Each district has the option to accept students of adjacent districts only or from any other districts statewide.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, of the 663 public school districts in Ohio, 429 of the school districts currently choose the statewide option of open enrollment. Only 90 districts accept students from adjacent districts only, and 144 do not participate in accepting open enrollment students. But those districts choosing not to accept open enrollment students cannot prohibit students from transferring out to other districts.
“Students come in or leave for different reasons,” said Steve Short, superintendent of Mount Vernon City Schools. “It allows people the choice for their child. I think leaving to provide a better education should be the number one reason.” Other reasons Short cited for open enrollment transfers are baby-sitting or commuting purposes, living in the district previously, or moving away and maintaining some consistency in the student’s routine.
