Dedham School Committee Says No To School Choice

DEDHAM, MA — The Dedham Public Schools will continue to not allow students from outside the district to attend their schools.

The school committee voted this week meeting to opt out of the School Choice program, which allows students to attend schools outside their home district which have opted into the program.

School districts which opt into School Choice receive a reimbursement of up to $5,000 per student.

"My recommendation to you is based on the ramifications financially of what could happen in the way that students coming into your district...we would be required to continue with them over the course of time and potentially observe some significant costs," Superintendent Michael Welch said.

School districts are required to hold a hearing and vote each year on the program. Failure to do so results in the district automatically opting in.

School Choice is more common in western Massachusetts and Cape Cod, where schools are dealing with declining enrollment.

Image: File Photo