5117.1 5117.1Students
School Attendance Areas
Intra-District Choice/Open Enrollment
The Board of Education (Board) endorses the neighborhood school concept and makes many decisions based on student population within the attendance areas of residence. The Board recognizes, however, that students may wish to attend a school or participate in a program located in an area other than that of their assigned school. Therefore, students shall be allowed to attend any school or participate in any program of their choice on a space available, first-come, first-served basis. Students who previously opted for the NCLB public school choice may remain in the choice school through the highest grade in the school.
In implementing the open enrollment program, the District shall consider:
1. Issues pertaining to the availability of space.
2. The availability of programs.
3. Eligibility criteria for participation in a particular program including age requirements, course prerequisites and required levels of performance.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this policy, a student may be assigned outside his attendance area by mutual agreement of the principals in the special interest of the student and/or school.
Open Enrollment and Transfers
Students and their parents/guardians shall be notified on an annual basis of the options available through open enrollment in sufficient time to apply. The Board, as required by statute, will also inform, at the middle and high school level, students and their parents/guardians of the availability of (1) vocational, technical and technological education and training at technical high schools, and (2) agricultural science and technology education at regional agricultural science and technology centers.
Students within a designated attendance area shall have priority in registering in that school. Students may apply for open enrollment in a school outside their attendance area and such applications shall be approved if there is space available in the requested school and the application has been submitted on or before (date) in accordance with the regulations accompanying this policy.
Parents and/or students who desire a change of school after (date) must submit a letter together with the required form requesting a transfer. The request shall be reviewed and acted upon in accordance with the regulations accompanying this policy.
Students granted permission to attend a school other than the school in their assigned attendance area shall have the same curricular and extracurricular status as all other students attending the school.
Transfer students attending a school outside their attendance area shall be granted admission on a year-to-year basis. However, as previously stated, a student attending a school as part of an NCLB public choice program may remain in the choice school through the highest level in that school. In the event the population of the attendance area increases to fill the building with attendance area residents, transfer students may be asked to enroll in another school. In the event the population of the attendance area increases to fill the building with attendance area residents, transfer students may be asked to enroll in another school.
Transportation
Students who previously exercised the choice option under NCLB and are continuing such option shall/shall not be provided transportation at District expense.
Choose one of the following:
Transportation for students granted permission to attend school outside their attendance area must be furnished by their parents.
Transportation for students granted permission to attend school outside their attendance area must be furnished by their parents unless space is available in District buses without disruption of regular routes and loading areas (not including handicapped/special education buses and routes).
Nondiscrimination
The Board, the Superintendent, other administrators and teachers shall not make any distinction on account of race, color, ethnic group, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity or expression, or religion of any student who may be in attendance or who seeks admission to any school maintained by the District in the determination or recommendation of action under this policy.
However, the Board reserves the right to restrict open enrollment and transfer requests if such requests begin to significantly affect the ethnic balance of a school.
Special Education Students
Requests from the parents (or guardian) of a special education student for open enrollment or transfer to another school or program shall be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
Intra-District Choice/Open Enrollment
(cf. 5117 - School Attendance Areas)
(cf. 5145.14 - On-Campus Recruitment)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-55 Pupils to attend regional school
10-221e Intradistrict student assignment programs
10-226a Pupils of racial minorities
10-226b Existence of racial imbalance
10-226c Plan to correct imbalance
10-226d Approval of plan by State Board
PA 96-213 An Act Concerning School Readiness and Intra-district Choice
NCLB waiver granted to Connecticut by U.S. Department of Education, May 2012
P.A. 12-116 An Act Concerning Educational Reform
Section 1111(d)(1)(D) ESEA
Section 8532, ESEA as amended by the ESSA
Policy adopted: