Chapter: Students
Open Enrollment Policy
Calhoun County Board of Education
Scope. To establish an open enrollment policy to allow nonresident students enrollment into Calhoun County Schools.
Authority. West Virginia Code 18-5-16. West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) Policy 7212: Intercounty Transfer Appeal.
Effective Date. _________________
Definitions
Nonresident student – a student who resides in this state and who is enrolled in or is seeking enrollment in a county school district other than the county school district in which the student resides.
Open enrollment – a process to allow nonresident students to enroll in any school within the district. Open enrollment is distinct from a mutual agreement of two county boards regarding mass transfer of students, as contemplated in §18-5-13(f)(1)(C) of this code.
Capacity – grade level capacity for grades Pre-K though six is defined in WVBE Policy 2510: Assuring Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs. Grade level capacity in grades seven through 12 is determined by the number of students a classroom can safely seat as determined by the State Fire Marshal. Capacity is also defined by the need for a county to hire additional staff, prior to enrollment, to appropriately educate the nonresident student.
Application Procedures
All open enrollment applications for Calhoun County Schools must be submitted to the Attendance Director or designee between March 1st and June 30th of the year preceding enrollment. Applications will be processed in order they are received and submitted to the CalhounCounty Board of Education at the next regular board meeting. All written responses to parents will be provided after board approval or denial. Applications from families moving into the area, students in foster care, or students who meet the definition of unaccompanied youth prescribed in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act will not be held to this timeline.
Open enrollment applications may only be denied by for the following reasons:
• Lack of grade-level capacity
• The application was not properly completed or otherwise submitted incorrectly
If open enrollment is denied, Calhoun County Schools will:
• Provide the parent or guardian a reason and explanation for the denial in writing within three days of the decision,
• Provide the parent or guardian with information on how to appeal the denial of the application utilizing the process outlined in WVBE Policy 7212: Intercounty Transfer Appeal, and
• Provide the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE)with the materials provided to the parent or guardian, also within three days of the decision.
While this policy does not ensure nonresident student’s ability to enroll in the school of their choice, Calhoun County Schools will attempt to accommodate specific school requests under the following conditions:
• The enrollment at the school and the specific grade level requested currently has and is projected to have vacancies for the upcoming school term;
• The school program of studies matches the needs of the nonresident student and will not require the addition of professional, support, or service personnel at the school;
• Nonresident students who are serving an expulsion imposed by their county of residence may not enroll sin Calhoun County school until such time the terms of the expulsion have been fulfilled.
• Student is interested in Virtual Education, is in grades 5-12 and has proven successful in virtual school learning environments.
If the preferred school of choice is not available, the student will be offered enrollment in the closest available school.
Enrollment Preferences
The following preferences will be given when processing and approving open enrollment application:
• Siblings of students already enrolled through the open enrollment process
• Secondary students who have completed 10th grade and, due to family relocation to another county, no longer reside in the county
• Students who are children, grandchildren, or legal wards of employees
• Students whose legal residences, though geographically within another county, are more proximate to a school within another county
• Students who reside in a portion of a county where topography, impassable roads, long bus rides or other conditions prevent the practicable transportation of the student to a school within the county, and a school within a contiguous county is more easily accessible
Transportation
Calhoun County Schools may, but are not required, provide transportation to students enrolled though the open enrollment process.
Transportation arrangements and agreements will be required for nonresident students with an IEP that specifies transportation is necessary for fulfillment of the program.
Continued Enrollment
Once a nonresident student has been granted open enrollment status, there is no requirement for yearly approval and the student will continue to be enrolled in Calhoun County Schools until the parent withdraws the student or upon graduation*.
*Calhoun County Schools may revisit open enrollment status of students only when grade level capacity has been reached and would preclude a resident student from attending his or her zoned school.
Participation in Athletics
Nothing in this policy supersedes the eligibility requirements for participation in extra-curricular activities established by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC). If a student wishes to change schools through open enrollment, the student should consult with the school administration and follow the guidelines for athletic eligibility as established by the WVSSAC.
Appeal Process
WVBE Policy 7212: Intercounty Transfer Appeal provides a process by which the parent or guardian of a student may appeal the refusal of a county board to approve the application for open enrollment. If during the appeal process, the State Superintendent discovers that the education and the welfare of the student could be enhanced, the State Superintendent may direct that the student may be permitted to attend a school in the receiving county.
Open Enrollment Application
Calhoun County Schools
Full Legal Name of Student: ___________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: ______ /_______/_______
202 __ – 202 ___School Year: Grade: _____________
Gender: Female or Male
Parent/Guardian:
Telephone:
Home Cell
Address Street/Box, City, Zip:
Email Address:
Optional
Resident County: Current School:
Please indicate if the applicant has a sibling currently under open enrollment.
Student Name: _________________________ School Enrolled: _________________________
Student Name: _________________________ School Enrolled: _________________________
Student Name: _________________________ School Enrolled: _________________________
Is your child currently eligible for and receiving special education services? Yes or No
Is your child currently being evaluated for special education services? Yes or No
Is your child currently receiving English Language Learning services? Yes or No
Is the student currently suspended/expelled from another school? Yes or No
If yes, when will the suspension/expulsion be complete?
*I certify the above information is true.
Signature of Parent or Guardian* Date Signed
*By signing and submitting this application for open enrollment I authorize the county in which I seek to enroll my child to contact the county in which my child is currently enrolled to discuss my child’s educational records, including special education services and other specialized educational needs.
Knowingly providing false information on this form will invalidate the application.
Central Office Use Only
Received:
Signature of Attendance Director Date
Received: _________________________________________________________________
Signature of Superintendent Date
APPROVED DENIED
_______________________________________________________________________________
Signature County Board of Education President Date of School Board Action
If denied, indicate reason:
Lack of grade-level capacity
____ Application was not properly completed or otherwise submitted incorrectly
