The state board discussed requiring districts to weigh available space and average class size in determining whether there's room for transfer students. Local school districts would set standards for accepting or rejecting applications and would have to give a reason for denials.

A school would be open to enrollment, for example, if a doctor says it's in the child's best interest or if a sibling goes there. Schools could be closed to balance a socioeconomic mix or lower class size, for example.

The proposal still is being fine-tuned. The State Office of Education plans to put a proposal out for district input in the coming weeks, then discuss it again June. It would show the proposal to the legislative Administrative Rules Committee in July.

"This is where we're heading," Cluff said, "Let's look at the numbers on how it affects (districts)."

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