JFB
OPEN  ENROLLMENT

The District has an open-enrollment program as set forth in A.R.S. 15-816 and A.R.S. 15-816.01 et seq.  The open enrollment program described in this policy shall be placed on the District website and made available to the public on request.

No tuition shall be charged for open enrollment, except as authorized by applicable provisions of A.R.S. 15-764, 15-797, 15-823, 15-824, and 15-825 or if the District has entered into a voluntary agreement with another district for the payment of tuition for certain students.

The School District shall update on each school's website the school's capacity and whether the school is currently accepting open enrollment students, by grade level, at least once every twelve (12) weeks unless there are no changes to report for the individual school.

If a school has any other separate capacity by specialized program, information regarding whether that program is accepting open enrollment students will be updated on the website, in the same manner.  The websites for the District and the individual schools will reflect information that is consistent with the mode/format accepted by the State Board of Education.  This information will include instructions for how parents may apply for open enrollment.  Hard copies of these instructions shall also be available to parents at individual schools.

Schools shall accept students throughout the school year as capacity allows.  Currently enrolled open enrollment students must submit a request for continuing open enrollment for each new school year as determined by the Superintendent or designee.  Applications for each new school year will be reviewed starting March 15 of the current school year and will be accepted as capacity allows for the new school year.  Students who are denied access due to capacity at any time shall be placed on a waitlist and informed that they are on a waitlist.  Students on the waitlist shall be selected as seats become available.

Definitions

"Resident Student" means a student whose residence is within the attendance area of a school.

"Resident School" means a school that is within the designated attendance area in which a student resides.  "Resident Transfer Student" means a resident student who is enrolled or seeking enrollment in a school that is within the School District but outside of the attendance area of the student's residence.

"Nonresident Student" means a student who resides in this state of Arizona and who is enrolled or seeking enrollment in a school district other than the school district in which the student resides.

"Open Enrollment" means the process by which Resident Transfer Students and Nonresident Students are allowed to enroll in any school within the District.

Enrollment Options Preferences

The District shall enroll at any time any Resident Student who applies for enrollment at that Student's Resident School.

For open enrollment, the District shall give enrollment preference to and reserve capacity for all of the following based on the priority listed below:

1.  Students returning to the school from the prior year. 

2.  Students who are children of persons who are employed by or at a school in the District.

3.  Siblings of students already enrolled.

4.  Resident Transfer Students

The District may also give enrollment preference to the following students regardless of the priority listed above:

1.  Students who are in foster care.

2.  Students who meet the definition of unaccompanied youth prescribed in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77; 101 Stat. 482; 42 United States Code Section 11434a).  

3.  Students who attend a school that is closing.

4.  Are children of a member of the armed forces of the United States who either is on active duty or was killed in the line of duty.

If, after applying the preferences above, the remaining capacity at a school is insufficient to enroll all students who submit a timely open enrollment request, the school shall select students based on a lottery.  If a student is selected through the lottery process, any siblings of that student shall then be given preference for enrollment as well.  Students placed on a waitlist shall also be informed of the lottery process. 

Transportation

Based on route capacity, and economic eligibility requirements, open enrolled students may be eligible for district transportation from a designated pickup point on a bus route serving the attendance boundaries of the school to which the student has been admitted, or as may be otherwise determined by the District.

For open enrolled students with disabilities whose individualized education program specifies that transportation is necessary to fulfill the program, the District shall provide transportation limited to not more than thirty (30) miles each way to and from the school of attendance or to and from a pick-up point on a regular transportation route or for the total miles traveled to an adjacent district.

Non-Discrimination

Except as provided in A.R.S. 15-816.01, a school that is operated by a school district may not limit admission based on any of the following: 

A.  Ethnicity or race.

B.  National origin.

C.  Sex.

D.  Income level.

E.  Disability.

F.  Proficiency in the English language.

G.  Athletic ability.

Digital  Learning  Program

These open enrollment policies shall apply to the District's online and on-campus Digitial Learning Program in addition to all other District schools.

Adopted:  December 09, 2024

LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
8-371
15-341
15-764
15-797
15-816 et seq.
15-816.01
15-823
15-824
15-825
15-841
15-922
42 U.S.C. 11301, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001,
   as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015

CROSS REF.:
EEAA - Walkers and Riders
IIB - Class Size
JF - Student Admissions
JFAA - Admission of Resident Students
JFAB - Admission of Nonresident Students
JFABD - Admission of Homeless Students
JFABDA - Admission of Students in Foster Care
JG - Assignment of Students to Classes and Grade Levels