Yes,
Delaware has public school choice
As
a result of legislation passed in 1995, Delaware
students may attend the public school of their choice
- if capacity exists - between districts and within
districts. Students are eligible to "choose" among
all public schools in Delaware.
Capacity
includes but is not limited to space, class size,
and any enrollment restrictions related to the school's
program.
Some
families are happy with Choice, others are frustrated
by it since so many of Delaware's school are already
operating over capacity.
APPLICATION
PROCEDURE
Applications
are available from every district and must be submitted
by the guardian or parent to the "receiving"
district. The deadline for applications is
the second Wednesday in January for the following
school year, or on or before the first day of the
school year for Kindergarten for that school year.
Late applications are accepted if failure to meet
deadline was for a good cause. The application may
be withdrawn by parental notice to both districts
prior to action by the receiving district.
The
receiving district must notify parents by the last
day of February (by June 15 for Kindergarten applications)
or within 45 days of receipt.
APPROVAL
Approval
criteria is established by each receiving district
but must be reasonably related to the nature of
the program or school. There are to be no auditions
or exclusions based on abilities. Approval preferences
may be given only to returning students, residents
of the feeder pattern, siblings of enrolled students
who meet the criteria.
TRANSPORTATION
Parents
are responsible for either transporting student
to regular district bus route or getting their child
to that school. There is no special transportation
for choice students..
TRANSFERS
Students
must remain in the choice school for a minimum of
two years. Exceptions are: graduates, changes of
legal residence, failure to meet requirements, or
if the transfer is permitted by the receiving district
at parent request. A "choice" student can be displaced
for filing to meet requirements only at the end
of the academic year. The student will be automatically
enrolled in resident district unless exercising
choice of another receiving district.
SUSPENSION/EXPULSION
A
student who has been suspended or expelled may not
automatically be accepted by a receiving district.
The decision is up to the receiving district. Inter-district
transfer is prohibited during the period of an expulsion.
SPECIAL
NEEDS STUDENTS
A
receiving district may accept or reject an application
based on the requirements of the student's IEP (Individualized
Education Plan). I
INTERSCHOLASTIC
SPORTS
A
choice student is not eligible for the first year
after a second change under the choice program.
He/she is eligible if the sport was not offered
in the previous receiving district.
To
view the Delaware Code as it relates to School Choice,
go to the Dept.
of Education's Web site and
click on View the Delaware Code online. Then
click on Title 14, Education and look down the list
for Public School Choice.
To
check out information about Delaware's schools and
districts, click
here for the School Profiles site.
