Greater Danbury area school, municipal and state leaders came together on Friday to tout the proposed expansion of the Open Choices program, which would allow some Danbury and Norwalk students attend school in surrounding towns.  The program is in place in 42 other districts and would begin in Norwalk and Danbury for the 2022-2023 school year as part of a budget proposed by Governor Ned Lamont.

Region 9 Superintendent Rydell Harrison says Easton has been hosting Bridgeport students for more than 20 years.  He says the district has seen a benefit to adding to the diversity of thinking in the classroom.  The students matriculate to Joel Barlow High School.  Redding does not currently host students, but wants to accept those from Danbury into the program.

Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi says there's declining enrollment in surrounding towns, with room to enroll new students.  They have the same square footage and same number of teachers, so there's no reason not to accept students from Danbury across all 9 buildings in the district.  The Ridgefield Board of Education hasn't voted yet, but Marconi says they are moving in that direction.  Marconi says the Open Choice program could also be beneficial to Ridgefield, where schools have lost racial and socioeconomic diversity. He said the program would “create a much better educational environment for everyone.” 

The state pays for the cost of busing students while the host and receiving districts split school funding from the state. Additional, individualized education costs are paid for by the sending district, meaning either Danbury or Norwalk.  A per-pupil grant follows each student to the host district. Depending on how many students are accepted, the grant ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 per child.

Danbury Senator Julie Kushner says this program is needed in Danbury now more than ever because of COVID-19.  Danbury Representative Bob Godfrey says that's because the region has seen an influx of new residents from Westchester County.