Some North Texas school districts are turning tradition on its head by accepting large numbers of students from outside their geographic boundaries.

Money plays a big role. And one district's gain could become a neighboring district's loss.

Dana Marable, the Lancaster ISD's interim superintendent, calls the proposed policy change inclusive.

"If we're in the business of serving children, we shouldn't be exclusive, we should be inclusive," Marable said. "And being totally open about it, it will bring to our district about $3,600 per student per year."

The Lancaster ISD's board of trustees has not approved the inter-district open enrollment plan yet. A public meeting to discuss the idea will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Lancaster High School auditorium.

Traditionally, school districts limit enrollment to students who live within their boundaries. But the scramble to find additional money has spurred some districts to open their doors to nonresidents at no charge. For each student, the state provides a set amount of funding to the school district. So numbers matter.

School district officials who have embraced an open-enrollment program aren't talking publicly about stealing students from other districts. Inevitably, the quality of a district's teachers, staff and curriculum will come into play if enough districts begin accepting students from anywhere.

Lancaster officials believe their prestigious International Baccalaureate curriculum, elementary-to-high school orchestra classes and intensive reading programs will attract nonresident students.

Students from nearby Wilmer and Hutchins also are in Lancaster's sights. Many of those students endure long bus rides to DISD schools, and they might opt for Lancaster schools instead.

Both Lancaster and Dallas school districts are ranked by the Texas Education Agency as "academically acceptable."

DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa minimized the impact Lancaster's proposed plan might have on the southern sector of his much-larger district, noting that Dallas will open new schools in the Wilmer-Hutchins area within three years.

"I would hate for families to be moving back and forth between districts, but we know kids move around a lot anyway," Hinojosa said. "This may or may not attract our kids, but we don't worry about things we can't control."

Lancaster will screen out low-performing students and those with discipline problems. Transfer students would help fill classrooms with low teacher-to-student ratios, officials said, and no new staff would be added. Students would not be charged to transfer in, but they would have to provide their own transportation.

The University Interscholastic League, which governs high school athletics, makes varsity athletes sit out a year when they move from one district to another. The rule is meant to keep school districts from recruiting stars from neighboring districts. The same rule applies to students who transfer from one district to another under an open-enrollment policy.

TEA doesn't know how many districts have adopted open-enrollment policies. But at least two North Texas districts made the change this year. Tarrant County's Birdville ISD opened enrollment to nonresidents in August after enrollment declined.

The district received 589 requests and approved 363, mostly from Fort Worth and Keller schools, said Mark Thomas, a district spokesman. The additional students bring an estimated $1.8 million in state funding for Birdville.

Red Oak ISD, just south of DeSoto and Lancaster, also began accepting nonresidents this year. But the students must live in Ellis County. Red Oak also will accept transfers from Ovilla and Glenn Heights even though those two towns are partially in Dallas County.

Fifty-two of the district's 5,400 students are transfers.

Nineteen of those live in DeSoto, which also adjoins Lancaster. But DeSoto ISD administrators believe their district is good enough to keep students from going to Lancaster.

DeSoto is organizing the high school into specialized academies and offering a new aviation certification program that officials believe will keep students in DeSoto.

"We're just going to make sure with the programs we have right now that our students' needs are being met," said Levatta Levelsassistant superintendent in DeSoto.

Carrollton-Farmers Branch trustees considered it but recently tabled the idea at least until the fall. Assistant Superintendent Charles Cole said officials were uncomfortable screening students based on academics.

Lancaster trustees could adopt open enrollment for the 2009-10 school year as early as March 1; officials want to see what ideas emerge from Monday night's public meeting.

Lancaster parent Rhonda Davis said she supports the idea if it brings money to the district and doesn't require more staff and more expense.

But Greg Stephenson, father of two Lancaster students, said he would rather see the district concentrate on its own students.

"We have enough trouble educating our own kids. They need to follow their slogan, 'Children First,' and educate our own children first," he said. "I don't want bigger, I want better."

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to transfer your child to another district:

Curriculum: Do the prospective district's academic offerings fit your child's needs and abilities?

State ratings: Are you looking for a better-performing school? Transfer students are placed based on available classroom space, so your child may not end up in the "Exemplary" school you prefer.

Transportation: Are the district's schools close to your home or work? Can you get your child to and from school every day? School districts do not provide transportation for nonresident students.

Athletics: Does your child plan to play varsity sports? If so, UIL rules will keep him or her off the field for at least a year after the transfer.

Other extracurricular activities: Do the extracurricular activities at the receiving school district meet your child's interests?

Grades and discipline: Receiving districts will not take transfer students with failing grades or disciplinary problems, including excessive absenteeism.

SOURCE: Dallas Morning News research