Racine School Choice Open Enrollment Extended

With 30 slots still available for the 2012-2013 school year in the Racine voucher program, open enrollment has been extended until May 7, according to the Department of Public Instruction.

According to a document on the DPI website, only participating schools can take advantage of the extension.

"Due to the statutory student limit of 500 students, participating schools will only be able to receive additional student applications from May 1 – May 7, 2012," the introduction reads.

If more than 30 students apply, students will be chosen at random, with preference given to those who participated in the 2011-2012 school year. There are 12 area schools accepting the vouchers.

State Sen. Van Wanggaard supports school choice, and he issued a statement today saying the enrollment extension is good news for parents.

“This is great news for parents who were unable to apply for the program in March,” he said in the release. “It provides low-income students in Racine who are underperforming or underserved in their current environment the opportunity to get an education that better meets their needs. I would encourage interested parents to learn more about this great program to see how it could benefit their family.”

Four new schools will accept vouchers for the 2012-2012 school year:

• Concordia Lutheran, 8500 Durand Avenue, Sturtevant
• St. Catherine's High School, 1200 Park Avenue, Racine
• St. John's Lutheran School, 510 Kewaunee Street, Racine
• Lutheran High School Association, 251 Luedtke, Racine

St. Joseph School, 1525 Erie Street, is a school choice program for the upcoming school year but is not participating in the extended enrollment period.