1. 1 Middle School Admissions Process 2009-2010 Office Of Student Enrollment Fall 2009

2. 2 Welcome Families! Agenda  2009-10 Calendar for Middle School Admissions  General Guidelines  Fairs, Tours and Open House Events  Directories and Application Form  Academically Enriched Programs & Request For Testing Forms  Q&A

3. 3 Calendar for Middle School Admissions Research: attend open houses, tours and fairs Assess whether each school would be a good fit for your child Review the completed application with your child’s guidance counselor or other school staff before submitting ** Make a copy of your completed application for your personal records.** TIPS : DatesActivity Week of October 13, 2009Directories and Request For Testing Forms Distributed to Families October 13, 2009 - October 22, 2009District Middle School Fairs & School-Based Open Houses October 28, 2009 Deadline for Families to Return Request for Testing for Academically Enriched Programs (Districts 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, and 30) November, 2009Middle School Applications Distributed to Families December 5, 2009 - December 13, 2009Middle School OLSAT Testing for Academically Enriched Programs December 15, 2009Deadline for Families to Return MS Choice Applications in All Distircts January 9, 2010 - January 31, 2010District 21/Mark Twain Middle School Talent Testing February, 2010 - March, 2010Student Interviews and Testing at Selected Middle Schools May, 2010Decision Letters Distributed to Families June, 2010Appeal Decision Letters distributed to Families

4. 4 Guidelines for Middle School Admissions ELIGIBILITY: All students are eligible to apply to middle schools located in: 1.district of current public elementary school AND 2.districts where they are zoned for middle school K-8 SCHOOLS: If your child attends a K-8 school, he or she may participate in the Middle School Admissions Process. Also, he or she will have priority to remain in that K-8 school. SIBLINGS: There is no sibling priority SPECIAL NEEDS: Students with special needs should fully participate OTHER OPTIONS: Charter Schools: contact the charter school directly Middle Schools with school-based applications: contact the school directly

5. 5 Middle School Fairs, Tours, Open House Events Learn about:  Middle School Admissions process and choices in your district  Schools with school-based applications Speak with school staff about important questions:  School characteristics  Enrichment opportunities (before or after school)  Partnerships, sports programs, travel opportunities  Special programs or other services (required early or late sessions) Fun and valuable learning opportunities! For a schedule of middle school events visit: schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Middle For open house or tours, please check each school’s directory page.

6. 6 Middle School Directory and Application DISTRIBUTION: 1. Students attending NYC public elementary schools will receive a Directory and Application directly from their Elementary School. 2. Students attending non-public schools can pick up a Directory and Application from a Borough Enrollment Office.  For a list of offices, call 311 or visit our website: http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment

7. 7 Middle School Directories Make sure you receive the correct district directory (one for the district to which your address is assigned or zoned for middle school and/or current elementary school district). Directories include a brief description, contact information, open house and interview information for each middle school in your district. *** It is VERY important to use the correct Directory for your district. Admissions processes can vary by each district. *** Four KEY Components: As you consider options, pay attention to: 1.School eligibility 2.School location and transportation 3.Selection criteria 4.Options for ELL or special needs

8. 8 1. School eligibility:  Is the school city-wide, borough-wide, district- wide, or only to a specific zone area(s)?  Is there a priority for admission? 2. School location:  Can your child travel alone or with others?  How long is the trip, from home and/or work?  www.hopstop.com can determine travel time and route www.hopstop.com 3. Selection Criteria:  Are there specific requirements? (test scores, on-site tests, auditions, minimum grades, etc)  Is admission by lottery (random selection)?  Is priority given to applicants who have signed-in at a fair, tour or open house? 4. Options for ELL or Special Needs  Are services listed on each page?  All students with Special Needs should participate in the Middle School Admissions process. Four Key Components:

9. 9 Middle School Application Form 1.Homeroom teachers hand out applications to students 2.Families complete and return applications to homeroom teachers  Rank a full range of choices on your child’s application – the more information you provide, the better informed your child’s placement will be  Sign the application 3.Changes to the application:  Lost application: Your school will be able to work with the Borough Enrollment Center to provide you with a duplicate  Incorrect address: Notify the your child’s elementary school so that staff there can update your address in the main computer system – a new application will be created. NEXT STEPS: If your child applies to an audition or screened school, you will be notified of an audition, testing or interview date.

10. 10 Middle School Application - SAMPLE Front

11. Middle School Application - SAMPLE 11 Inside

12. Middle School Application - SAMPLE 12 Back

13. 13 Middle School Application Form Improvements! - OLSAT and Mark Twain/District 21 Talent programs will only appear on a student’s application if he or she has submitted a Mark Twain/D21 Request for Testing form. If an out of district student has submitted a Mark Twain/District 21 Request for Testing, Mark Twain will appear as one of the choices that should be ranked along with the district choices on their application. (There will not be a separate Mark Twain offer for out- of-district students – each student will receive a single offer). Students will be able to rank to each Mark Twain/District 21 talent program on their applications – based on the talents for which they have requested to be tested (i.e. Mark Twain – Vocal, David A. Boody – Visual Art, Bay Academy – Strings, etc.) Students will still test in two talent areas. NEXT STEPS: If your child applies to an audition or screened school, you will be notified of an audition, testing or interview date.

14. 14 Request For Testing OLSAT Form 1.RFT forms will be available the week of October 13 at public schools and borough enrollment offices. 2.The deadline for families to submit completed RFT forms to public schools or borough enrollment offices is October 28. 3.Public elementary school students should return the OLSAT Request for Testing form to their public elementary schools. 4.Private School students should return the OLSAT RFT to their nearest Borough Enrollment Center. 5.Public school staff will enter the RFT data into ATS for their students. 6.Borough enrollment office staff will handle non-public school student submissions. 7.Admissions tickets or ineligible letters will be generated for students based on the RFT data. You will receive an admissions decision letter in May 2010. OLSAT TESTING DATES: DECEMBER 5, 6, 12 and 13, 2009

15. 15 Request for Testing (RFT) Form - OLSAT

16. 16 Request For Testing Mark Twain/D21 (Talent Programs) 1.Mark Twain/District 21 Request for Testing forms will be available the week of October 13 at public schools and borough enrollment offices. 2.Mark Twain/District 21 RFT forms must be postmarked or submitted in person no later than Wednesday, October 28, 2009 to: Mark Twain 2401 Neptune Brooklyn, NY 11224 3. Admissions tickets will be generated for students who submitted the Request for Testing. 4. This year, students will be able to rank to each District 21 program separately – based on the talents for which they have tested (Mark Twain – Vocal, David A. Boody – Visual Art, Bay Academy – Vocal) 5. If an out of district student has submitted a Mark Twain/District 21 Request for Testing, Mark Twain will appear as one of the choices that should be ranked along with the district choices on their application. (There will not be a separate Mark Twain offer for out- of-district students – each student will receive a single offer). 5.Students will be able to rank to each Mark Twain/District 21 talent program on their applications – based on the talents for which they have requested to be tested (i.e. Mark Twain – Vocal, David A. Boody – Visual Art, Bay Academy – Strings, etc.) Students will still test in two talent areas. Mark Twain/District 21 TALENT TESTING DATES: Jan. 9, 10, 23, 24, 30 & Feb. 1, 2010

17. 17 Improved RFT Process - Mark Twain /District 21 Talent Testing

18. 18 Transportation Eligibility: General Education If your child’s grade and distance from school falls into a box above for “Either Yellow Bus or MetroCard,” your child will get a yellow school bus if: (a) The school has applied to OPT for yellow bus service, (b) the student lives in the same district as the school and (c) we can reach the student and at least 10 other students on a bus route that does not exceed 5 miles in length. Eligible students that do not meet these criteria get a MetroCard. This means that an eligible kindergartener will get a Metro Card if s/he goes to school in another district or is the only person at her/his school who lives south of the building so that we can’t create an 11 person / 5 mile bus route.

19. 19 Questions? Please speak with your child’s Middle School Liaison about any Middle School Admissions questions. You may also contact: Middle School Enrollment Team Phone: 212-374-4944 Email: MS_Enrollment@schools.nyc.govMS_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov