Westborough School Committee votes 5-0 to opt out of Massachusetts school choice

The Westborough School Committee voted unanimously to decline participation in the Massachusetts school choice program, approving a motion to opt out by a 5-0 vote.

Under the Educational Reform Act of 1993 and related state guidance, districts are treated as participants in school choice unless they vote by June 1 to opt out; the committee authorized notifying the state Department of Education of its decision.

Allison, a district staff member who summarized the law for the committee, said the state default is that districts participate in school choice and that "the tuition amount is... $5,000 per student," an amount she said is far below Westborough's per-pupil expenditure. In discussion before the vote, committee members clarified that the vote affects Westborough's acceptance of nonresident students and does not prevent local families from seeking to attend other districts that offer choice.

A committee member read the motion into the record, which said in part that the committee "respectfully declines to participate in the school choice program... provided, however, that if surrounding districts subsequently and prior to June 1 decide to accept the provisions of school choice, the Westborough School Committee reserves the right to do likewise to protect its fiduciary interest." That motion was moved and seconded and carried 5-0.

Committee members asked staff for background data during the discussion, including how many Westborough students attend schools elsewhere; staff said that data was not available at the meeting. Allison said the state publishes participation lists and that the committee must inform the Department of Education by June 1 to register the district's decision.

With the vote, the district will remain closed to accepting students under the school choice program for the coming year unless the committee reconsiders before the state deadline or neighboring districts change their participation.

What's next: the committee directed staff to file the required notification with the state Department of Education by the June 1 deadline and to provide additional background data if available.