House Bill 136 expands preference criteria to include students who live within two miles of the city where the charter school is located.
The measure stems from high demand and limited spaces at Summit Academy, a Draper charter school that opened this year, said Rep. Jim Ferrin, R-Orem. The current lottery system gives preference only to students whose siblings attend the school or whose parents were involved in forming it.
As a result, many Draper families lost out, said Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper.
"There were a lot of families within walking distance who were left out," he said. "We saw this community energy that was there just siphon away."
The Utah PTA's Marilyn Kofford wonders if the bill defeats the purpose of charter schools.
"If they have the right to limit [admission], what happened to choice?" she asked.
- Ronnie Lynn
