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Board adopts school-choice opt-outs and joins Kent ISD collaborative schools-of-choice program
Summary
The board voted to opt out of accepting section 105 and section 105c open-enrollment applications for 2026–27 and approved participation in the Kent Intermediate School District collaborative schools-of-choice program for 2026–27.
At its Feb. 9 meeting the Forest Hills Board of Education approved a set of annual school-choice resolutions that restrict free open enrollment while enabling participation in a Kent ISD collaborative schools-of-choice program.
Superintendent Kirby reviewed two statutory options under state law and explained that opting out of section 105 and section 105c applications gives the district an opportunity to instead participate in a Kent ISD collaborative model. Under the Kent ISD arrangement, the district can set the number of students it will accept and place incoming students in specific schools with openings rather than allowing unrestricted open enrollment.
Board members moved and seconded three motions: to decline section 105 open-enrollment applications from nonresident students for the 2026–27 school year, to decline section 105c contiguous-ISD applications for 2026–27, and to participate in the Kent Intermediate School District collaborative schools-of-choice program for 2026–27. Each motion was approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the transcript.
Superintendent Kirby and other staff emphasized this is the annual action the district takes and that it does not change existing local practices beyond opting in to the Kent ISD collaborative framework for the coming school year.
