School Choice Request in Flagler County Public Schools

School Year 2010-2011

Controlled Open Enrollment Choice (Grades K-6)- A student may request a choice to another elementary school school in the district during the "Controlled Open Choice" window.  Acceptance of the request is based on space available, staffing, and enrollment numbers at the school requested.  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

Out of Zone Variance Request (Grades 7-12)- A student may be granted a variance request based on an academic program which is not available at the home zoned middle or 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.  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 school they would be assigned based on residence.  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

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 Controlled Open 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

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 a 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 if requested.  Parents must provide their own transportation for the non-ESE 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:  Controlled Open 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, 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 request can be considered when the hardship occurs.

Required Forms:  Hardship Request Application with attached verification documents

Home Purchase/Lease Request (K-12)- Students who are out of zone but will move to a new school zone during the school year due to a lease or building contract, may attend the school where they will reside when the home construction is complete or the lease agreement takes effect.  In this case the parent must provide a copy of the written contractual evidence supporting the contractual agreement along with a hardship request.  The parent/guardian must inform the school when the change in residence is made and provide residence verification to the school.  While out of zone 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 should be done prior to the start of the school year.

Required Forms:  Controlled Open Public School Choice Application or Out of Zone Variance Application with accompanying copy of a lease agreement or a building contract

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

VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM (S. 1002.45)

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

      A.      Grades K-12:

1. Students who are residents of Flagler County may enroll in district VIP program if they meet at least one of the following conditions:

   1. 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.
   2. 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.
   3. The student was enrolled during the prior school year in a school district virtual instruction program under this section or a K-8 Virtual School Program under s. 1002.415.
   4. The student is a sibling of a student enrolled at the end of the 2009-10 school year and re-enrolled for next year.

      B.  Grades 7-12: iFlagler, (a franchise of Florida Virtual School)

1. High School: district-enrolled and home-schooled students part-time or full-time

2. Middle School: district-enrolled full-time (part-time at principal’s request); home-schooled full- or part-time

Students in grades 6-12 may also take courses through Florida Virtual School (FLVS).

District-enrolled students intending to take iFlagler or FLVS courses must work with their guidance counselors to determine whether or not virtual education is appropriate for their academic needs and to ensure that they have met course prerequisites.  Students must also receive permission from their parents before enrolling.

District-enrolled students taking high school courses through iFlagler or FLVS will earn credit that will be transferred to their district high school record.  Diplomas for district-enrolled students are issued through the home-zoned school.

iFlagler is considered a school of choice.  By enrolling in a school of choice, a child's Individual Education Plan (IEP) becomes inactive.  This means that the special education or related services that were provided to a child at his or her previous school of enrollment will not be provided to him/her at iFlagler.

High school students who take classes through iFlagler off-campus as part of their regular class schedule will have the off-campus privilege rescinded if they become behind pace or they are failing the course after the grace period ends.  They will then be required to continue in the school iFlagler lab.

Main page:  www.flvsft.com

Enrollment:  http://flvsft.com/enroll/

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 go to the school choice website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/McKay.