School Choice Request in Flagler County Public Schools

School Year 2011-2012

Open Controlled Enrollment Choice (Grades K-8) A student may request a choice to another elementary school or middle school in the district during the "Controlled Open Choice" window.  The requested school must have available capacity, must meet class size compliance and maintain diverse enrollment.  If more students apply for choice to a school than the school can accept, approval will be based on a lottery system.  Preference will be given to siblings of students who already attend a "school of choice."  Applicable deadlines must be followed.  Parents must provide their own transportation or use the nearest bus stop that provides service to the school of choice they are requesting provided there is space available on the bus.

Required Form:  Open Controlled Public School Choice Application (K-8).  (June 14-July 29 open only to those who are new or have moved)

Out of Zone Variance Request (Grades 9-12) A student may be granted a variance request based on an academic program which is not available at the home zoned high school, the student has a sibling who is enrolled in an ESE cluster program or for a Senior Graduation Privilege.  Variance requests must be submitted to the school principal at the school the student is requesting to attend after obtaining the signature of the zoned school principal.  The requested school must have available capacity, must meet class size compliance and maintain diverse enrollment.  Attendance and discipline from the previous school may be checked and considered before a decision is made by the school administration.  Applicable deadlines must be followed.  In the event that the student ceases to be enrolled in the program for which the variance was granted, the student may be required to return to the zoned school they would be assigned based on residence at the beginning of the next school year.    Parents must provide their own transportation or use the nearest bus stop that provides service to the school of choice they are requesting provided there is space available on the bus.

Required Form:  Out of Zone Variance Application (9-12).  (June 14-July 29 open only to those who are new or have moved)

Out of County Request (to leave or to enter Flagler County County schools)- A student residing in Flagler County who wishes to attend a school in another district must fill out the form to leave our district and apply to the receiving district for acceptance.

Required Forms:  Transfer Between Districts Request

Students who reside outside of Flagler County may request to attend Flagler county Public Schools.  The student must provide a completed and approved "release form" from the district they wish to leave.  They must also fill out a form with Flagler County Schools requesting to attend a school in our district.  This must be school board approved.  The requests for release from the district the student wishes to leave and the request to attend a Flagler County Public school must be done annually.

Required Forms:  Flagler's Transfer Between Districts Request, either Open Controlled Public School Choice Application or Out of Zone Variance Application and a copy of an Approved Release form from the county of residence

Employee Choice Request  Employees who live within the district, may request that their child attend the school where they work or the school in closest proximity.  Parents must provide transportation for the student.  Applicable deadlines must be followed.

Required Forms:  Employee Choice Application (K-12)

School district employees who do not reside in Flagler County may request that their child attend the school where they work or the school within closest proximity.  The student must provide a completed and approved "release form" from the district they wish to leave.  Additionally, an Out of County Request for School Choice must be completed and approved by the Flagler County School Board in addition to the Employee Choice Request.  The release forms from both counties must be completed annually.  Parents must provide transportation for the student.  Applicable deadlines must be followed.

Required Forms:  Flagler's Transfer Between Districts Request and Employee Choice Application and a copy of an Approved Release form from the county of residence.

Sibling of Special Needs Student Request (K-12)  If an Exceptional Education Student (ESE) is assigned to a cluster program only offered at one school site, siblings may request and may be granted choice to the school where the ESE program is located.  Parents must provide their own transportation for the non-ESE student or use the nearest bus stop that provides service to the school of choice they are requesting provided there is space available on the bus.  This request may also be used for students who have a sibling in the cluster gifted programs.  Applicable deadlines must be followed.  Requests for sibling choice may be completed after applicable deadlines if placement in an ESE cluster program happens during the school year.

Required Forms:  Open Controlled Public School Choice Application or Out of Zone Variance Application

Hardship Request (K-12)  A student may be granted a variance when a condition or situation exists which appears to be a unique problem or situation.  Compelling situations may include employment, transportation, child care issues, safety issues, custody issues and/or active military deployment of a single parent.  Parents must provide their own transportation or use the nearest bus stop that provides service to the school of choice they are requesting provided there is space available on the bus.  These requests can be considered when the hardship occurs.

Required Forms:  Hardship Request Application with attached verification documents.  Also include Open Controlled Enrollment Public School Choice Application or the Out of Zone Variance Application.

Title I NCLB/AYP Choice Request (specific schools)  Schools that receive Federal Title I funds may also offer an NCLB/AYP choice to other schools in the district.  Families will be notified if their child attends a school that will be offering this choice.  The district determines which schools will be offered as a school of choice.  Parents must provide their own transportation or use the nearest bus stop that is convenient for the parents and provides service to the school of choice they are requesting.  Applicable deadlines must be followed.

Required Forms:  NCLB/AYP Choice Application

Flagler County Public Schools' Virtual Instruction Program (VIP)

A full-time district Virtual Instruction Program (VIP) is available to K-12 students.

Grades K-5:

FLVS-FT (formerly Connections Academy): Students who are residents of Flagler County may enroll in the district VIP program if they meet at least one of the following conditions:

a.  The student has spent the prior school year in attendance at a public school in this state and was enrolled and reported by a public school district for funding during the preceding October and February for purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program surveys.

b.  The student is a dependent child of a member of the United States Armed Forces who was transferred within the last 12 months to this state from another state or from a foreign country pursuant to the parent's permanent change of station orders.

c. The student has a sibling who is currently enrolled in a virtual instruction program and the sibling was enrolled in that program at the end of the prior school year; or

d.  The student is eligible to enter kindergarten or first grade.

For more information and to enroll, visit:

http://www.connectionsacademy.com/florida-school/enroll.aspx

Grades 6-12:

The district VIP for students in grades 6-12 is iFlagler, a franchise of Florida Virtual School (FLVS).  iFlagler uses the same courses as FLVS, but with local teachers who are employed by Flagler County Public Schools.  For more information, visit http://www.flaglerschools.com/iflagler/.  To enroll or for more information, please call the district VIP office (437-7526, ext. 3112 or 586-2660).

Home School Instruction  Home school is a parent-directed educational option that allows parents the freedom to plan their child's educational path and goals.  Parents are responsible for providing the instructions and curriculum materials for their child.  If attendance issues were evident before enrollment in the home school program, the parent and the student will work with a Home School Committee to determine if the planned program will meet the needs of the student.  All home school students may be called upon to attend a portfolio review session with the Home School Department. 

For further information you may go to:  http://www.flaglerschools.com/content/home-school or call the Student Services Office at the Flagler County Schools District Office.  Home School enrollment may occur at anytime during the school year.

McKay Scholarship Request- The John M. McKay Scholarship Program allows parents of students with disabilities to choose the best learning environment for their children.  The parent of a Florida public school student who is dissatisfied with the student's progress may remain at their assigned school, attend another public school in the district or adjacent district, or attend a participating private school.  For further information you may contact the Exceptional Student Education Department at   437-7526 or to apply go to the school choice website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/McKay.  Parents requesting choice to another public school in the district must follow the applicable deadlines for school choice.  The requested school must have available capacity, must meet class size compliance and maintain diverse enrollment.