Unsafe Label Will Trigger School Choice

By Erik W. Robelen

Washington

Persistently dangerous: Not exactly an attractive label for a school. It's probably the last thing a principal would want.

New ESEA But some schools could get that dubious distinction next year, thanks to a new federal mandate.

The provision—sort of a policy cocktail mixing equal parts school choice and school safety—says that any student attending a "persistently dangerous" public school must be allowed to transfer to a "safe" school in that district. In addition, any student who falls prey to a "violent criminal offense"...