EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — East Grand Rapids Public Schools accepted fewer schools-of-choice students this year, reflecting a priority on smaller class size and a belief that students who attend schools there should live in the district, officials told The Grand Rapids Press.
The district accepted 16 schools-of-choice students in elementary grades, down from 19 last year, The Press reported.
School board President Brian Ellis told The Press that board members want to keep class sizes small and to avoid reliance on a strategy of balancing the budget with the additional money that choice students bring.
"We want people to buy a home here," he said. "We're a great community and a great place to educate kids. But if people want to send their children to our schools, they should buy a home."
SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "East Grand Rapids says families who
want to attend its schools should buy home in district," Sept. 14, 2010
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "The Class Size Myth," Aug.
2, 2010
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