The Mattapoisett School Committee delayed a vote on school choice to weigh the pros and cons of the program.

Each year school committees must vote on whether or not they will participate in school choice, which gives schools $5,000 for every out of district student enrolled.

In 2013, the committee approved school choice for the first time, opening up three spaces in second grade. Last year the committee approved three additional slots for first grade.

Of the six slots, three are occupied.

Principal Rose Bowman said more students were participating, but parents withdrew their children for various reasons.

The committee was divided on adding more slots in kindergarten.

Chair James Higgins has had reservations about the program from the start.

“I’ve been an advocate of small class sizes,” Higgins said. “Adding school choice children could have the potential to negatively impact the educational experience of any Mattapoisett student.”

Higgins said more students could tax the resources of Mattapoisett schools, diminishing the ability of teachers to cater to student’s needs.

Committee member James Muse disagreed.

Muse said the program did more than bring in extra money.

“It’s a positive program overall and it’s not exclusively financial,” Muse said.

In addition to the funding, school choice brings in an opportunity for diversity in the school and town, he said.

Committee members must vote on whether or not to adopt school choice, and decide how many slots, if any, to add before June 1.

Superintendent Doug White brought the issue before the committee early this year. White said holding the school choice lottery in June didn’t give parents considering the program much time.

“People have already made commitments by then,” White said.

Committee members decided to study the issue more and hold a vote at their April meeting.