General Enrollment Provisions

Arizona school districts must comply with enrollment requirements set forth in federal law, Arizona Revised Statutes, and Arizona Administrative Code. School districts subject to a valid federal court order of desegregation must also comply with that order, which may required those districts to consider factors not otherwise outlined by Arizona law.

School districts are required to enroll, and reserve capacity for, all students residing within their boundaries. School districts are also required to establish an open enrollment policy to enroll students outside of their boundaries if there is capacity. Open enrollment decisions may be based on the capacity of a program, class, or grade level at the school.

Arizona law specifically states, however, that school districts may not deny enrollment based on ethnicity or race, national origin, sex, income level, disability, English language proficiency, or athletic ability.[1] The implementation of a school’s enrollment policy cannot disproportionately impact any group or class of students. School districts should ensure that enrollment documents and policies avoid the collection of documents or the asking of questions that would give the appearance that enrollment is determined based on any impermissible factor. School districts should avoid the perception of discouraging students from enrolling for any reason.

When considering the information contained in this guidance, it is important to consider the difference between enrollment and registration. Enrollment is the process through which students are offered a seat or a spot. Registration is the process through which the school collects the documents needed to begin serving the student (i.e. for the student to enter the classroom and receive instruction and/or services).

[1] A.R.S. § 15-816.01(F).