File:  JFBA - Intra-District Choice/Open Enrollment

The Board of Education endorses the neighborhood school concept and makes many decisions based on student population within the attendance areas of residence.  The Board recognizes, however, that resident 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 will be allowed to attend any school or participate in any program of their choice on a space available, first-come, first-served basis at all schools other than Snowy Peaks and by lottery at Snowy Peaks Magnet for Transformational Education program ("Snowy Peaks").

Application Process for Open Enrollment and Transfers to Schools Other Than Snowy Peaks

Resident students and their parents/guardians will be notified on an annual basis of the options available through open enrollment in sufficient time to apply.

Students, including home-schooled students desiring to take classes on a part-time basis, within a designated attendance area will have priority in registering in that school.  Students may apply for open enrollment in a school outside their attendance area and such applications will be approved if there is space available in the requested school and the application has been submitted on or before February 15, or the closest Friday before if the 15th falls on a weekend, in accordance with the regulations accompanying this policy.

Parents/guardians and/or students who desire a change of school after February 15 must submit a letter together with the required form requesting a transfer.  The request will be reviewed and acted upon on a space available, first-come, first served basis, in accordance with the regulations accompanying this policy.

Open enrollment and transfer students attending a school outside their attendance area will be granted admission on a year-to-year basis.

Application Processes for Snowy Peaks

Students and/or families must submit an application during an open enrollment window as set forth on the district website for admission to Snowy Peaks. Applications must be completed no later than midnight on the day of the deadline stated on the district website in order to be included in the selection process. Priority will be given to applications of students who reside in Summit County and/or are siblings of current Snowy Peaks students. Students and/or families who submit applications after this date will be placed on the school's waiting list. Two informational nights will be held at Snowy Peaks for interested students and families. Attendance at one of these events is mandatory for consideration of an application.

Once an application has been submitted, students will receive a score on a three-criteria rubric:

1.  Needs-Based (counselor/teacher recommendation)

2.  Desire-Based (student and parent interview)

3.  Best-Fit Indicator (We will use a history of data to best predict which students will succeed at Snowy Peaks. We will create a student-centered project to assess students in this area.)

In instances where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of spaces available, students will be selected by lottery. A set number of spaces will be allotted for each grade level, and some grades may have no spaces to offer. Those students who do not get a space via the lottery will be placed on the waiting list ahead of students who submit late applications.

Open Enrollment and Programs

In implementing the open enrollment program, the district is not required to:

1.  Make alterations in the structure of a requested school or make alterations to the arrangement or function of rooms within a requested school.

2.  Establish and offer any particular program in a school if such program is not offered currently in such school.

3.  Alter or waive any established 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 their attendance area by mutual agreement of the principals in the special interest of the student and/or school.

Student Status

Students granted permission to attend a school other than the school in their assigned attendance area will have the same curricular and extracurricular status as all other students attending the school, as determined by applicable laws, bylaws of the Colorado High School Activities Association, and the district's eligibility requirements.

Any student enrolled pursuant to this policy will be allowed to remain enrolled in the school or program through the end of the school year unless overcrowding or other undesirable conditions develop, as described in the accompanying regulation.

Transportation

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.  Homeless students, students in foster care and students with disabilities will be transported, as necessary, in accordance with state and federal law.

Nondiscrimination

The Board, the superintendent, other administrators and district employees will not unlawfully discriminate based on a student's disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, immigration status, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services in the determination or recommendation of action under this policy.

Special Education Students

Requests from the parents of special education students for open enrollment or transfer to another school or program will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.  The student's current Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be used to determine if the requested school or program can meet the student's needs.

Adopted: August 22, 1995
Revised: June 25, 2003
Revised: April 23, 2008
Revised: February 12, 2013
Revised: April 22, 2014
Revised: May 31, 2018
Revised:  May 16, 2019
Revised: April 9, 2020
Revised:  October 15, 2020

LEGAL REFS.:   C.R.S. 22-1-102 (definition of district resident)

C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(ll) (Board duty to adopt policies requiring enrollment decisions to be made in a nondiscriminatory manner

C.R.S. 22-32-110 (1)(k) (definition of racial or ethnic background includes hair texture, definition of protective hairstyle)

C.R.S. 22-32-110 (1)(m) (power to fix boundaries)

C.R.S. 22-36-101 et seq. (open enrollment)

CROSS REFS.:  EEA, Student Transportation

IHBG, Home Schooling

JC, School Attendance Areas

JFABD, Homeless Students

JFBB, Inter-District Choice/Open Enrollment

JFABE, Students in Foster Care

JJJ, Extracurricular Activity Eligibility