Enrolling at AIS

WESTERN CONNECTICUT ACADEMY OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL

Participating Districts: Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding.

Transportation to the magnet school is provided by all participating districts.

Students from towns in Connecticut other than the participating districts may also apply. If accepted, parents must provide transportation to the school.

If you have any questions, please contact Sandra Sanchez, Secretary to the Chiefs of Schools at 203-797- 4710 or sanchs@danbury.k12.ct.us

WHAT IS A MAGNET SCHOOL?

A magnet school is a publicly funded school operated by a local or regional school district or by a cooperative agreement involving two or more districts. Each magnet school has an educational theme or focus; students choose to enroll based on their interest in the school’s theme.

WHAT IS THE THEME OF THE SCHOOL?

As the title indicates, the Academy of International Studies will engage students in a curriculum and a structure that will encourage them to develop and use a global perspective early in their educational career. The international theme, woven through all subjects, will be supported with units of study based on countries, continents, and cultures; engaging young students’ innate curiosity and openness to learning. Spanish, one of the leading languages in the world, will be the initial World Language taught, beginning in kindergarten.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND?

All students in the school districts participating in the magnet school program are eligible. Districts may limit the number of participants and must hold a lottery if there are more applicants than space available. No student may be denied enrollment because of ethnicity or disability.


The General Assembly has recently reaffirmed its commitment to fully enrolling its magnet schools by adopting Section 42 of P.A. 07-3 of the June 2007 Special Session, An Act Concerning Implementing the Provisions of the Budget Concerning Education. That section provides, in part as follows: “After accommodating students from participating districts in accordance with the approved enrollment agreement, an interdistrict magnet school that has unused student capacity may enroll directly into its program any interested student. A student from a district that is not participating in the interdistrict magnet school shall be given preference. The local or regional board of education otherwise responsible for educating such student shall contribute funds to support the operation of the interdistrict magnet school in an amount equal to the per student tuition, if any, charged to participating districts.”

IF I AM A DANBURY RESIDENT AND MY CHILD ATTENDS A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL, CAN WE APPLY?

Yes. you may apply. As part of the registration process, you must submit proof of residency. To verify legal residence of the parent/guardian, renters must supply a current notarized lease or notarized letter from landlord. Homeowners must supply a recorded deed showing ownership or a current tax bill. In addition to the above, you must show one utility bill (gas, electric, phone).

WHAT IF WE MOVE?

If your child is selected for enrollment and you move out of your current district prior to the beginning of the school year your child’s slot is at the discretion of the receiving district.

WHERE IS THE SCHOOL LOCATED?

The Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies Elementary Magnet School is located in Danbury on University Boulevard (adjacent to the Westside Campus of Western Connecticut State University).

WHAT GRADES DOES THE SCHOOL OFFER?

Kindergarten through fifth grade.

DOES THE SCHOOL PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS?

Yes. The responsibility for holding the planning and placement team meeting belongs to the district where the student lives. The magnet school is responsible for ensuring that the student receives the services required by the student’s individualized educational program (IEP) whether those services are provided by the magnet school or by the school district in which the student resides.

WILL THERE BE BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS?

Yes, our magnet school participates in Danbury Public School's Extended Learning Program. There is a fee for this program.

WHAT IS THE ADMISSIONS POLICY PERTAINING TO SIBLINGS?

Preference will be given to an applicant whose sibling is currently enrolled in the school. The brother or sister must reside in the same household.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

  1. Lottery applications are available on January 1st for the upcoming school year. If a student is not randomly selected, they will be placed on a waiting list. Should a vacancy occur, students on the waiting list will be called based on their randomly selected lottery number.

  2. The waiting list will be maintained until January of each school year. After that time, the waiting list will be discontinued.

  3. Once a parent has confirmed or declined their child’s acceptance to the Magnet School, the child’s name will be removed from the waiting list.

  4. In the event that a student is retained in a grade other than the grade to which they applied, their application will be considered null and void. A new application must be submitted for the proper grade.

  5. Late applications will be accepted, but placed at the end of the waiting list.