A program started in 2012 across New Jersey continues to grow and is showing no signs of slowing down.

The Interdistrict School Choice Program permits students to attend a participating school outside their district of residence as long as there are seats available. What initially began with 21 school districts has grown to 73 school districts across the state.

The New Jersey Herald says, “For students, the benefits include a chance to take advantage of another school’s academic offerings in a particular area such as foreign languages, technology or music; or, perhaps, a chance to turn over a new leaf and make a fresh start after struggling academically or socially in their home district. The benefits for school districts, though perhaps less obvious, are no less important to the program’s success. The program offers participating districts a leg up by allowing them to maintain operating efficiencies along with enrollment and funding for programs that might otherwise face elimination.”

“Every child in New Jersey deserves a choice of where they attend school, both so that they can attend a high-quality school and so they can find a program that is a good fit for them,” Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said. “The Interdistrict Choice program is a win for families because it provides choices to their children and is a win for districts because it allows them to maximize enrollment and more efficiently use space in their schools.”

Read more about this program and how it is helping students by clicking here.