Within the past two years, Indiana public schools have been hit with a triple whammy.
* Property tax caps were implemented and the state funding formula changed to give schools fewer resources.
* The economy went sour.
* Rules were changed to allow students to transfer to other districts, with the per-pupil average of $6,000 from the state following them to their new district.
Taken singly, any of these developments would have been bad news for many public schools. Combined, they’ve ushered in a time of unparalleled budget crises for most school districts.
The last whammy — the transfer rule — promotes school choice for parents and students, which is a good thing. It also fosters a spirit of competition among schools, pumping up the ambition to excel, to make the district desirable for transfers. That’s also a good thing.
However, school districts were given a great degree of latitude in setting rules for students they would accept. And that’s a bad thing.
Many districts — South Madison Schools being one example — have set standards that ensure they’re accepting only transfer students who have good academic credentials and good behavioral records. While it’s certainly understandable that individual districts don’t want troublemakers coming in, it limits the options of students who are looking for a new environment and a fresh start, or those who want scholastic and extracurricular options not offered by their home district.
The transfer rule would be more fair to these students if schools were not allowed to “cherry pick” transfers but instead were required either to take the transfers on a first-come, first-served basis or through a lottery system like the one used by Burris Laboratory School in Muncie.
Such an unbiased selection system would give all students, regardless of their past record of achievement, a more equitable chance at going to the district of their choice.
Indiana’s educational system, as dictated by the state constitution, is designed to be egalitarian, to provide a good education for every child. It’s not intended to be elitist or selective, favoring excellent students over those who struggle.
The way the transfer law is set up now, it promotes elitism.
