“It’s to give parents in the surrounding areas an option if they want to come to Frisco,” said Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip.
FRISCO, Texas — The Frisco Independent School District (ISD) has unveiled a new initiative aimed at boosting revenue while utilizing facilities and staff currently under capacity.
The Access Frisco program is an open enrollment plan that allows students from outside the district to apply for spots in Frisco ISD schools.
“It’s to give parents in the surrounding areas an option if they want to come to Frisco,” said Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip.
Launched this week, the plan opens up 900 spots for students ranging from kindergarten to 7th gr ade. These positions will be filled by applicants from areas outside Frisco ISD, with students assigned to campuses that currently have available space.
Waldrip tells WFAA there are elementary and middle schools currently operating below functional capacity that can take in between 20 and 100 students.
“We are not going to overfill a building or give teachers a huge number of students,” Waldrip wanted to stress following a number of negative social media comments suggesting otherwise.
Many parents on social media think this is a reaction to bonds and a tax rate increase (VATRE) not getting approved in November. The district says open enrollment has been on the table for months.
While open enrollment is not a new concept, the way Frisco ISD is approaching it is unique. Education professor Watt Lesley Black of Southern Methodist University notes that Frisco ISD’s effort stands out due to its branding.
“I’ve never seen a district brand it and market it,” Black said. “I’ve never seen it have a name like Access Frisco.”
The timing of Access Frisco is no coincidence. In the past two years, Frisco ISD has faced mounting financial pressures, with the district’s first-ever deficit budgets. The state’s per-student funding has remained stagnant for the past five years, leaving many districts in a precarious financial situation.
“Frisco has never passed a deficit budget until these last two years,” said Waldrip. Declining enrollment has become a common thread all across North Texas. “It started tapering off five years ago…two years ago it just stopped,” the superintendent said about enrollment.
However, there is a catch: students accepted into the program will be responsible for their transportation, adding an extra layer of logistical responsibility for families.
Black points out that many surrounding districts also have open enrollment policies, albeit less publicized.
“If you’re going to come after my kids, I might come after your kids too,” Black says, highlighting the competitive nature of the current school choice landscape.
Access Frisco is a bold step forward for the district, offering both a potential solution to its financial woes and a new opportunity for students and families.