Open Enrollment History and Process
Introduction The below memo was written in 2023 to provide a general overview about the origins and elements of the District’s Open Enrollment process. As we near a decision in AB Forward process for elementary re-organization that includes a possible shift (either short and/or long-term) of student placement procedures, we are providing this memo to offer historical background information.
Part I: Background Information on Open Rnrollment What is “Open Enrollment” in Acton-Boxborough?
In most school districts in the Commonwealth, elementary-aged students are typically assigned to elementary schools based on geographic proximity, or “neighborhood schools.” In that model, a school district creates geographic regions within its district where residences located within a region would be linked to a particular elementary school. Therefore, the address of where the student lives determines the school to which they are assigned. In Acton-Boxborough, elementary-aged students (Kindergarten through 6th Grade) are assigned to one of its six elementary schools through a system known as “Open Enrollment.” In this system, geography does not determine school assignment. Instead, when families register their child to attend an elementary school, they are asked to list the six elementary schools in order of their preference. When available, the District endeavors to place the student at the school of the family’s highest choice. The District follows a process, largely guided by the District’s enrollment policy (Policy JC-R) , to determine when a student receives priority for a particular school, and how placement decisions are made when interest is greater than available space. The District’s Open Enrollment system has at times been referred to as “school choice”. This term is problematic and should be avoided for two primary reasons. First, the term “school choice” is also a term more commonly used in reference to the state’s inter-district school choice program, which allows families to enroll their children in schools in communities other than the city or town in which they may reside. Until a few years ago, Acton-Boxborough itself was an active participant in the state’s school choice program, and accepted students from other cities and towns (and would receive tuition from those students’ sending districts). Acton-Boxborough does not currently participate in the state’s inter-district school choice program . Second, the term school choice may offer members of the community the impression that families are guaranteed their choice of elementary school. Families are provided the opportunity to list their preferred school placement, and certain elements of the enrollment policy offer priority based on various situations or conditions. However, there is no guarantee that every family will receive the school assignment of their choice. As noted later in this memo, there are also scenarios where families may find themselves with fairly limited options for school placement. Before addressing a few of those different scenarios, a brief history of the Open Enrollment system is offered below.
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