PLAY. AS STATE LAWMAKERS PREPARE TO HEAD BACK TO WORK IN MONTGOMERY, ONE TOPIC THAT COULD BRING CHANGE TO THE STATE’S EDUCATION SYSTEM. SCHOOL CHOICE GOVERNOR KAY IVEY FEELS IT’S TIME THAT PARENTS HAVE A SAY IN WHAT SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND. WVTM JARVIS ROBERTSON IS LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM TONIGHT WITH MORE ON HOW THIS COULD AFFECT BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS. HEY, JARVIS. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. CHEERING GOD. NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS SURROUNDING SCHOOL CHOICE. THOSE I SPOKE WITH SAY THAT THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT IS REPRESENTED IN THAT DECISION. NOW, I THINK THE SCHOOL CHOICE IS A VERY PERSONAL DECISION FOR FAMILIES. SONIA SMITH SITS ON THE BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOL’S BOARD OF EDUCATION. I ASKED IF SHE BELIEVES STUDENT ENROLLMENT WOULD DECLINE FOR THE DISTRICT IF SCHOOL CHOICE BECAME STATE LAW. SHE SAYS THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THAT TO HAPPEN. A LOT OF RURAL AND URBAN DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO DEAL WITH POVERTY. SO THAT’S A THAT’S A PREVALENT ISSUE FOR US. ALTHOUGH SCHOOL CHOICE IS A HOT TOPIC ON THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, IT’S STILL UNCLEAR JUST HOW IT LOOKS IN ALABAMA. BUT WE REALLY DON’T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO SHAKE OUT AND HOW IT WILL LOOK. SO I THINK HAVING A BETTER SENSE OF HOW IT WILL ACTUALLY BE STRUCTURED AND LOOK AT ALABAMA WILL GIVE US MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. IF ENROLLMENT DOES DROP, IT COULD ALSO LEAD TO A DECREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT. OF COURSE, IF THAT STUDENT IS NOT IN OUR DISTRICT, THEN WE ARE NOT RECEIVING THOSE FUNDS, WHICH THEN JUST LESSENS THE OFFERINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE. SMITH WOULDN’T SAY IF SHE’S FOR OR AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE. SHE STRESSES THE NEED FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE STATE TO BE TRULY REPRESENTED IN THE DECISION OF SCHOOL CHOICE BEFORE IT BECOMES LAW. I THINK ANY TIME YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF SYSTEM, THERE ARE GOING TO BE THOSE THAT ARE LEFT OUT. NOW, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THERE’S NO GETTING T THAT STUDENT ENROLLMENT WOULD DECLINE. FOR BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS, I AM TOLD THAT THEY DO HAVE SOME OFFERINGS THAT MAKE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPETITIVE, LIKE THEY’RE MAGNET SCHOOLS. EARLY COLLEGE ALSO CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS REPORTING LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM TONIGHT. I’M SERVICE ROBERTSON WVTM 13. THE