Jacksonville schools approve tuition for out of district students

The Jacksonville city school board agreed Monday  to officially open its doors to additional out-of-district families.

According to an approved policy amendment, Jacksonville’s public schools will start admitting students in the fall from out-of-district families who are willing to pay $1,000 in tuition per child for each school year.

Jacksonville schools already allow free attendance. regardless of place of residence, by children of Jacksonville State University employees, of municipal employees, or of those who own a business in town.

Board President Mike Poe, who supported the change, said opening enrollment to more out-of-district students will give more students better education options.

Poe said the new policy might be especially helpful for families who live outside the district and cannot move into the city limits due to, employment obligations or housing-market limitations.

The policy states that schools are charging tuition to ensure each student's family will “bear a fair portion of the burden of local funding.”