Mechanicsburg Exempted Village School District
Bylaws & Policies
 

5113 - INTER-DISTRICT OPEN ENROLLMENT

The Board of Education shall permit the enrollment of students from any Ohio district in a school or program of this District, provided each enrollment is in accordance with laws and regulations of the State concerning Inter-District Open Enrollment, the provisions of this policy, and the administrative guidelines established to implement this policy.

Program and Grade Level Size

The restrictions on a number of students in a program or grade level due to circumstances unique to that specific program, the terms of a collectively-bargained, negotiated agreement, and/or financial or operating conditions of the District.

Racial Balance

"Racial" refers to minorities classified as African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, or Native-American students. "Balance" refers to the percentage of "racial" students in a District program, classroom, or school.

Racially Isolated Building

A racially isolated building refers to a School District building in which the racial composition of the students varies significantly from the overall composition of the School District.

Maintaining Appropriate Racial Balance

Given our diverse society and the importance of preparing students for education, work, and citizenship, the Board is committed to providing students with equal educational opportunities, promoting educational diversity in the District, and providing students with the educational benefits of a diverse student body. To that end, the Board will give individual consideration to each applicant seeking enrollment under this policy, so that all factors that may contribute to student body diversity are meaningfully considered in admissions decisions. It is the intent of the Board to maintain an appropriate racial balance as required by law.

The Superintendent shall prepare guidelines for the implementation of this policy in ways that comply with relevant State laws and guidelines and establish procedures that provide for the following:

 A.Nondiscrimination on the basis of grade level, including preschool disabled; academic ability; English language proficiency; or any level of artistic, athletic, or extra-curricular skills. A student's application cannot be denied because of disciplinary action in his/her home school, except for a suspension or expulsion for ten (10) consecutive days or more that occurs in the current semester or the semester immediately preceding the application. If the District does not currently provide services required for a disabled, adjacent-district student, his/her application may be denied.

 B.Application procedures including the criteria by which applications from adjacent-district and other-district students shall be reviewed and prioritized. District students and any adjacent-district or other-school district students previously enrolled under the provisions of this policy shall be given priority.

 C.Maintenance of appropriate racial balance in District schools, classrooms, and programs.

 D.Communications with applicants and their parents concerning this policy and the District's guidelines, including the timelines for application and notification of acceptance or rejection.

 E.Athletic eligibility complies with State regulations and the provisions set forth by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

 F.Set District capacity limits by grade level, school building, and educational program.

This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Board to determine whether to adopt a resolution to continue the policy or to rescind Inter-District Open Enrollment. Additionally, the Superintendent shall annually review the level of diversity existing within the District’s programs, grades and/or schools to assess whether the application of this policy has resulted in an adverse effect on racial balance. As a part of his/her review, the Superintendent will be responsible for determining whether there is a legal basis for the Board to use the "maintenance of appropriate racial balance" language of R.C. 3313.98. Should this review indicate that the racial balance in one or more of the District’s programs, grades and/or schools has been adversely affected, the Superintendent shall consult with legal counsel to determine what, if any, appropriate steps should be taken, including, but not limited to, policy revisions or other actions necessary to comply with State and Federal law. The

Board reserves the right to modify the conditions under which Inter-District Open Enrollment would continue for any particular program, classroom, or school.

Students will be considered for open enrollment permitting space is available on the following criteria:

 A.Official application must be submitted before the deadline of April 30.

 B.Staff members’ children will be accepted first.

 C.Students already enrolled in the school who move away will be considered second.

 D.Siblings of other students who are already accepted under the open enrollment policy will be considered third.

 E.The number of openings in a particular program for students from other Ohio districts will be determined by optimum size for a particular program, classroom/school building, or grade level which is the number of students that can be accommodated without increasing District expenditures for staff or equipment.

Note:

 A.Enrollment in a program or school shall be subject to an agreement that transportation of the student from another Ohio district to the school or to a scheduled in-District bus stop is provided for by the student, his/her parents, or the other Ohio district. Exceptions to this requirement may need to be made for disabled students.

 B.Applications from students from other Ohio districts may also be rejected if the student has been suspended or expelled for ten (10) consecutive days or more during the semester of application or the preceding semester.

 C.Open enrollment status can be removed from students who are discipline problems. Students may be removed during or after the year.

R.C. 3313.98

Adopted 6/21/2010