1. Admissions, Lottery, and Enrollment
Office of Charter Schools
Stephenie Clark
Education Consultant
December 2017

2. Goal
Each board member and/or school leadership member will receive interpretations of general statute and recommendations regarding:
Admissions Policy
Enrollment preferences
Open Enrollment
Lottery Procedures
Post Lottery Procedures

3. Admissions Policy
Clearly defines the enrollment process for EACH applicant.
Applicant eligibility
Application content
Length of open enrollment period
Lottery
Lottery date and process
Accepted applicant
Waitlist applicant
Applicants after open enrollment period

4. Applicant Eligibility
Any child who is qualified under the laws of this State for admission to a public school is qualified for admission to a charter school. Domicile: One parent (natural or legal) resides within the domicile.

5. Student Admission
Except as otherwise provided by law or the mission of the school as set out in the charter, the school shall not limit admission to students on the basis of intellectual ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, athletic ability, or disability. A charter school shall not limit admission to students on the basis of race, creed, national origin, religion, or ancestry. A charter school whose mission is single-sex education may limit admission on the basis of sex.

6. Admission Refusal
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a charter school may refuse admission to any student who has been expelled or suspended from a public school under G.S. 115C through G.S. 115C until the period of suspension or expulsion has expired.

7. Enrollment Priorities
The following are optional priorities that may be provided.
The admissions policy should clearly outline any priorities the charter school intends to give.
Enrollment priorities should be ranked in order of priority in the admission policy.

8. Siblings of Current Enrolled Students
Siblings of currently enrolled students who were admitted to the charter school in a previous year. For the purposes of this section, the term "siblings" includes any of the following who reside in the same household: half siblings, stepsiblings, and children residing in a family foster home.

9. Siblings of Students Having Completed Highest Grade Level Offered
Siblings of students who have completed the highest grade level offered by that school and who were enrolled in at least four grade levels offered by the charter school or, if less than four grades are offered, in the maximum number of grades offered by the charter school.

10. Children of Full-Time Employees or Board of Directors
Limited to no more than fifteen percent (15%) of the school's total enrollment, unless granted a waiver by the State Board of Education, the following:
Children of the school's full-time employees.
Children of the charter school's board of directors.

11. Previously Enrolled in Charter School and Pursued Specified Opportunities
A student who was enrolled in the charter school within the two previous school years but left the school (i) to participate in an academic study abroad program or a competitive admission residential program or (ii) because of the vocational opportunities of the student's parent.

12. Enrolled in Another Charter School
A student who was enrolled in another charter school in the State in the previous school year that does not offer the student's next grade level. Both charter schools have an enrollment articulation agreement to accept students or are governed by the same board of directors.

13. Open Enrollment Period
Openness and transparency is the KEY!!!
Must be at least 30 consecutive days (CHTR-003)
Can begin once the school is formally approved.
Lottery application should be limited in content and widely accessible. (December 2014 Guidance)
Applications should be time-stamped and checked for completeness – recorded formally.

14. Post-Open Enrollment Period
Local decision regarding closed date
If a school does not accept ONE application – they cannot accept any or enroll any students for the rest of that year.
Waitlist should consist of received applications, include time stamps, and recorded in accordance to the policies and procedures of the school.

15. Lottery Application Recommended
Accessible in multiple formats/locations
Follows school’s marketing plan
Focused on being open and transparent
Provide synopsis regarding the process (website, handbook, handout)
Ask questions regarding siblings (multiple birth or currently enrolled (year 2+))
Have a verification statement
Signed by parent or legal guardian

16. Not Recommended Limit public access to the application
Limit marketing plan and open enrollment options
Ask questions regarding:
Race, gender, religion
Academic status
Disability
Interests
Written essay
Previous transcripts
EC eligibility (IEP/504)

17. Lottery Procedures for Siblings
If siblings apply for admission to a charter school and a lottery is needed under subsection (h) of this section, the charter school may enter one surname into the lottery to represent all of the siblings applying at the same time. If that surname of the siblings is selected, then all of the siblings shall be admitted to the extent that space is available and does not exceed the grade level capacity.

18. Lottery Procedures: Multiple Birth Siblings
If multiple birth siblings apply for admission to a charter school and a lottery is needed under subsection (h) of this section, the charter school shall enter one surname into the lottery to represent all of the multiple birth siblings applying at the same time. If that surname of the multiple birth siblings is selected, then all of the multiple birth siblings shall be admitted.

19. Lottery Procedures: Weighted Lottery
If a procedure for a weighted lottery reflecting the mission of the school has been approved by the State Board as part of the charter, and a lottery is needed under subsection (h) of this section, the lottery shall be conducted according to the procedure in the charter.

20. Public Charter School Lottery Recommendations & Best Practices

21. Lottery Process Initial preferences Denote the # of openings per grade
Open to public, fair and consistent
Practice, practice, practice!!!
Continue until ALL names are pulled
Provide a detailed policy and process to public
Initial preferences
Including held spots for preferences
Denote the # of openings per grade
Enrollment procedure (if chosen)
Waiting list procedures

22. Required Lottery Worksheet
Grade K
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Total Grade Level Openings 50
# of enrolled due to Preferences 3 1 4 2
# of lottery Openings 47 49 46 48
# of Applications
55* 43 67
51* 36
*Denotes Multiple birth siblings card in this lottery

23. Example Lottery Methods and Procedures
Method of selection:
Pull from hat or fish bowl
Use random selection computer program
Bingo cages
Student identification methods:
Numbers
Initials
Names
*Be conscious of FERPA

24. Lottery Procedures Continued:
Clear separation of duties
Who will draw? (staff, board, 3rd party community member)
Person to announce
Person to record
Ensure all approved lottery preferences are noted or recorded per grade level
Person to verify

25. Post Lottery Process Open and transparent
If you messed up – “own it” and do the right thing
Ensure results are accessible to parents
Policy that outlines how long parents have to determine the “offer of enrollment”
Recommendation at least 7 – 10 days
Policy should address extenuating circumstances
Policy should address non-responsive families (position place on waitlist)

26. Questions?

27. Stephenie Clark Education Consultant Office of Charter Schools stephenie.clark@dpi.nc.gov