🦉 When parents go to jail for wanting better schools
Today we’re tackling a tough but important topic: what happens when parents will do anything – even risk jail time – to get their kids into better schools. Thankfully, there’s hope on the horizon!
In this post:
- 🤯 Why a mom’s “crime” of using her dad’s address sparked national change
- 📊 The states leading the charge to end ZIP code education
- 📚 A special discount for young writers heading to StoryCon (Feb. 21 – 22)
- 🐮 Plus: When Dr. Seuss meets Dr. Dre…
💡 THOUGHT
When Your Address Matters More Than Your Aspirations
“I remember my mother and grandmother having this conversation about whose address we might use so I could attend Mount Royal,” 50CAN President Derrell Bradford recalls with a knowing smile. “Looking back now, I realize – that was highly illegal. But it was also deeply subversive in an important way.”
Bradford, now a leading voice in education reform, breaks down how families typically access school choice:
“There are really just four ways: You’re lucky. You’re connected. You’re rich enough to buy in the right neighborhood or pay tuition. Or you lie – which is how most families actually do it.”
– Derrell Bradford, President of 50CAN
His conclusion is stark: “A system that prioritizes a child’s address over their aspirations is not one I aspire to.”
📊 TREND
Zoning Out: Schools Drop the ZIP Code Game
In 2011, Ohio mom Kelley Williams-Bolar spent 10 days in jail. Her crime? Using her father’s address to enroll her daughters in a better school district.
In nearly half of U.S. states, parents can face criminal prosecution – including jail time – for using a different address to access better schools. Some districts even hire private investigators to track down families they believe “don’t belong.”
But the tide is turning. States are finally recognizing that a child’s potential shouldn’t be limited by their postal code. Here’s what’s happening:
- Colorado: More than 199,000 students (28% of public school enrollment) now attend schools outside their assigned zones
- Florida: 273,000 students use open enrollment to choose their schools
- Arizona: All districts must accept transfer students tuition-free, with buses allowed to cross district lines
Instead of criminalizing parents for seeking better opportunities, we should be breaking down the barriers that force them to make such desperate choices in the first place.
⚒️ TOOL
StoryCon: Where Young Writers Find Their Voice
Got a budding author at home? StoryCon – coming to Salt Lake City’s Salt Palace on February 21-22, 2025 – might be their breakthrough moment.
The Highlights:
- Keynotes from bestselling authors Neal Shusterman (Scythe), Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), and Brandon Mull (Fablehaven)
- Writing workshops for all ages
- Agent/editor pitch sessions for aspiring authors
- Teen Readers’ Choice Awards – the only national book award decided by teens
Pro tip: Register for the masterclasses early – they fill up fast! And don’t forget to check out the Teen Writing Contest with cash prizes.
Have questions about becoming a teen author? Submit your questions for Operation Literacy CEO and StoryCon event organizer Jennifer Jenkins on this week’s OpenEd podcast!
– Charlie
(RAP) OF THE DAY
Dr. Seuss Meets Dr. Dre
When bedtime stories get a beat… Mr. Brown’s moos just hit different. 😎
That’s all for today!
– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)