Student Policy #1

Admissions Policies and Procedures: “Admission policies and procedures, consistent with [Education Code Section 47605] subdivision (d).”  -Education Code Section 47605(b)(5)(H)

The Museum School is nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, and all other operations, and will not charge tuition.  Pupils will be considered for admission without regard to any of the characteristics listed in Education Code section 220.  All admissions procedures and criteria of the Museum School are and will remain consistent with non-discrimination statutes.

The Museum School will endeavor to accommodate all students who apply for admission. No test or assessment shall be administered to students prior to acceptance and enrollment into the Museum School. Museum School will comply with all laws establishing minimum and maximum age for public school attendance in charter schools. Admission, except in the case of a public random drawing, shall not be determined by the place of residence of the pupil or his or her parent or legal guardian within the state. In accordance with Education Code Section 49011 and 47605(d)(2)(B)(iv), admission preferences shall not require mandatory parent volunteer hours as a criterion for admission or continued enrollment.

In accordance with Education Code Section 47605(d)(4)(A), the Museum School shall not discourage a pupil from enrolling or seeking to enroll in the charter school for any reason, including, but not limited to, academic performance of the pupil or because the pupil exhibits any of the characteristics described in Education Code Section 47605(d)(2)(B)(iii), including pupils with disabilities, academically low-achieving pupils, English learners, neglected or delinquent pupils, homeless pupils, or pupils who are economically disadvantaged, as determined by eligibility for any free or reduced-price meal program, foster youth, or pupils based on nationality, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Similarly, in accordance with Section 47065(d)(4)(C), the Museum School shall not encourage a pupil currently attending the Charter School to disenroll from Museum School or transfer to another school for any reason, including, but not limited to the academic performance of the pupil or because the pupil exhibits any of the characteristics described in Education Code Section 47605(d)(2)(B)(iii), as listed above.

Pursuant to Education Code Section 47605(d)(4)(D), the Museum School shall post a notice developed by the CDE on the Charter School website, outlining the requirements of Section 47605(d)(4), and make this notice available to parents.

Applications will be accepted during a publicly advertised open enrollment period each year for enrollment in the following school year.  Following the open enrollment period each year, applications shall be counted to determine whether any grade level has received more applications than availability.  In the event that this happens, the Charter School will hold a public random drawing (or “lottery”) to determine admission for the impacted grade level, with the exception of existing students, who are guaranteed admission in the following school year. Admission preferences in the case of a public random drawing shall be given to the following students in the following order: the first priority for admission will be given to siblings of students admitted to or attending the Museum School, and children of the Museum School’s employees and Board members. The second priority will be for students who attend or reside within the attendance area of Florence Elementary School, which is where the charter school site is physically located.  The third priority will be for students who reside in the boundaries of the District. The Museum School and the District agree to adhere to the requirements related to admission preferences as set forth in Education Code Section 47605(d)(2)(B)(i)-(iv).

The Museum School will establish a 1st open enrollment period for the following school year, during the months of September through February each year. Second and third open enrollment periods and lottery(ies) shall be established as necessary on an annual basis.

During this enrollment period, parents will be  encouraged to attend at least one scheduled “School Tour” during which the Museum School principal and staff take time to discuss all aspects of the school’s philosophy and structure with the parents of prospective students, and answer any questions they might have.  The purpose of these tours is to give parents the information they need to make an informed choice about whether the Museum School is the kind of school they want for their child.   At the conclusion of the open enrollment period, all confirmed applicants are accepted unless the number of applicants exceeds the number of available spaces.  Should applicants exceed capacity in any grade, admission will be granted to first priority students and the remainder shall be subject to a random public lottery, taking all necessary efforts to ensure lottery procedures are fairly executed, using the following rules and procedures, which will be communicated to all interested parties at their request:

1. The school will enlist the services of an outside agency or auditor to monitor and verify the fair execution of all activities related to holding the lottery.
2. The lottery will take place within 5 days of closing the open enrollment period.
3. The lottery will take place on the school’s campus in a facility large enough to allow all interested parties to observe the drawing, or at another public venue near the school large enough to accommodate all interested parties.
4. The lottery will take place on a weekday evening or other time when most interested parties who wish to attend may do so.
5. The number of available openings, by grade level, will be available prior to the lottery to all interested parties upon request.
6. Lottery pools will be established for each priority of applicants at each grade level.
7. The ballots shall be drawn by a representative of the outside agency or auditor confirming the results of the lottery (see (a) above).
8. The drawing shall continue until all names are drawn. Those individuals whose names are drawn after all spaces have been filled will be placed on a waiting list in the order drawn.
9. When an opening becomes available, the family with the highest rank on the applicable waiting list will be notified in writing and shall have 5 business days from the date of postage to respond. The school will also attempt on at least two separate occasions to contact the family by phone.  Those families not responding within the 5-day period will forfeit their right to enroll their student in the school for that school year.
10.  The outside organization or agency verifying the fair execution of the lottery shall confirm in writing the lottery was conducted fairly, and the school shall keep on record copies of that confirmation.

Notice of the open enrollment periods and the dates and times of the school tours will be advertised in the appropriate recruitment materials, advertisements, and forums mentioned in Element 7.

Once a student has been admitted, the student’s parents or guardians will fill out an enrollment packet, which shall include the following:

1. Student enrollment form
2. Proof of Immunization
3. Home Language Survey
4. Completion of Emergency Medical Information Form
5. Proof of minimum age requirement
6. Release of records.