Jude Schwalbach is a Senior Policy Analyst at Reason Foundation.
Schwalbach previously worked at Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, where his research focused on expanding educational opportunities for K-12 students and reducing the federal footprint in education. Before joining Heritage, Schwalbach taught high school in Phoenix, Arizona.
Schwalbach’s writings have appeared in The Hill, National Review, RealClear Education, Orange County Register, Washington Times, and redefinED.
Schwalbach holds a B.A. in philosophy from Thomas Aquinas College and an M.A. in political philosophy from Hillsdale College. He is based in Washington, D.C.
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California’s open enrollment laws have room for improvement
Thirty-three states score worse than California on open enrollment, but the state’s laws still fall short in two critical ways.
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What the birth dearth means for public schools
Fewer students and increased competition will require public institutions to be dynamic and responsive.
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Grading every state’s public school open enrollment laws
Open enrollment laws let students transfer from their assigned public schools to other public schools with open seats.
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Rural West Virginia families embrace open enrollment
Open enrollment was the most common form of school choice last school year, garnering 48% of the state's school choice participants.
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Last year, 200,000 students in Colorado used open enrollment to pick their public school
K-12 open enrollment is an increasingly common and popular form of school choice, allowing students to attend classes outside their assigned public school zone
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Oklahoma now has the best open enrollment policy in the country
The state's open enrollment expansion strengthens its education marketplace so students are no longer trapped by their ZIP codes.
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Transparent open enrollment reports help parents and taxpayers hold public schools accountable
These reports can reveal school districts’ unfair or bad practices, such as rejecting transfer applicants for arbitrary reasons.
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The important role of K-12 open enrollment policies in public schools
Open enrollment in public schools is a form of school choice that allows students to attend schools other than the one assigned to them by their school district.
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When public schools keep certain students out—or make them pay to attend
Because of loopholes in Ohio’s open enrollment laws many of the state’s highest-ranked public schools remain out of reach for most children.
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Kansas students will benefit from new K-12 open enrollment law
But some Kansas policymakers want to roll back mandatory open enrollment before it even begins.
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Many of Virginia’s public schools charge significant tuition to transfer students
Research finds 55 Virginia public school divisions charge non-resident tuition rates to transfer students.
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Wisconsin’s K-12 open enrollment program is working for rural school districts
More than 73,000 of Wisconsin's public school students used open enrollment last year and 31% of transfer students transferred to rural school districts.
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A bipartisan reform to increase school choice, improve public schools
Open enrollment allows students and parents to find the best public schools for their educational and social needs.
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Progressives should support public school open enrollment to help schools and students
Allowing kids to transfer to the public schools of their choice is a win-win policy for California’s students, public school advocates, and school districts.
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Florida’s open-enrollment program is a popular and overlooked school choice success
Nearly 1-in-10 of the state’s public school students rely on open enrollment to attend schools that are the right fit.
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K-12 open enrollment would be a win-win for Virginia’s students and schools
Open enrollment gives families more choices and improves public education.
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Education savings accounts and open enrollment would help Tennessee’s students and schools
School choice policies make schools more responsive to students’ needs.
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Ranking the K-12 open enrollment laws passed in 2023
With 85 percent of K-12 students still attending public schools, open enrollment policies are critical to school choice.