Admission of Students Policy - 5002

Students shall be admitted to the school district who are:

• legal residents of the school district or otherwise entitled by Nebraska law to attend the schools of the district tuition-free;

• approved for option enrollment pursuant to policy;

• approved as a foreign exchange students pursuant to policy; or

• legal residents of a district that has contracted with this district for their educational services.

• statutorily entitled to attend the schools of the district on a part-time basis pursuant to policy

• out-of-state students who have been enrolled pursuant to this policy.

Students who have been placed in a foster home within the school district are not residents of the district and will not be permitted to enroll unless the district has received a written determination from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that it is in the best interest of the student not to attend his or her district of residence.

Prior to enrolling any student who is a ward of the state of Nebraska or a ward of any court, the district will ask to review a completed copy of the “Education Court Report Form” promulgated by the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Commission on Children and Families in the Courts – Education SubCommittee. If there is no such completed form, district staff will offer assistance to the appropriate responsible individual in securing the information necessary to complete the form as part of the district’s enrollment process.

Except in adult education classes or when otherwise required by law, no student who is of 21 years of age or older, or who has earned a high school diploma or its equivalent will be allowed to be enrolled in or continue to attend school in the district.

Students who seek to enroll in the district must comply with each board policy, state statute and regulation that applies to their situation. Grade level placement will be determined in accordance with district policy.

Part-Time Enrollment of Students

A student may be permitted to enroll on a part-time basis pursuant to this policy and applicable curricular practices when enrollment is appropriate for reasons that include but are not limited to the following: the student attends another education institution on a part-time basis; is enrolled for a limited number of credit hours needed to graduate; has a modified schedule because of a disability or as part of an individualized education plan; or is a student who resides in the school district but attends a private, denominational, or parochial school or a school that elects not to meet accreditation or approval requirements (referred to herein as an exempt school student or an exempt school, respectively).

Application for Enrollment. The parent or guardian of an exempt school student who is of appropriate age to attend school, is a resident of the school district, has not graduated from high school, and has not received a graduate equivalency diploma must meet all of the district’s admission requirements and file an application for enrollment on forms provided by the school district by August 20 of the year of enrollment. For second semester high school courses, the application must be filed by January 10th. For students who move into the district mid-semester, the application must be filed within 20 days of moving into the district. The administration shall review the application, determine whether to approve or deny it, notify the parent or guardian, and schedule enrollment at an educationally appropriate time in the building or attendance center of the administration’s choice. Enrollment does not carry over from one school year to the next, and the parent or guardian of an exempt school student must apply for enrollment each school year.

Limitations Based on Resources. The enrollment of exempt school students is subject to limitations established by the district for grades, classes, courses, and programs based on the limited resources available to the school district. Full-time students shall be given priority for enrollment in grades, classes, courses, and programs.

Placement of Students. Exempt school students shall be placed in courses for which they have adequate preparation and which are determined to be educationally appropriate based on criteria that include, but are not limited to the student’s age, achievement test scores, academic record, evaluation by school personnel and any other standards used by the district for the placement of students as outlined in policy #6007.

Applicability of School Rules. Exempt school students are subject to all rules and standards of the board of education and administration as set forth in policy, handbooks or other communications, as well as the rules and directives of the building administration and teaching personnel. They must remain on the school campus during scheduled classes but must leave the school campus when not engaged in a course or course-related activity unless the course or course-activity requires their presence or the building principal approves their presence. Students who violate school policies, rules, or directives shall be subject to disciplinary procedures up to and including suspension and expulsion.

Extracurricular Sports and Activities. Students who are enrolled in a private, denominational or parochial school may not participate in extracurricular sports and activities sponsored by the public school district if they participate in extracurricular sports and activities offered by the private, denominational or parochial school. Exempt school students may participate in extracurricular sports and activities if they are enrolled in at least 20 credit hours per semester, with at least 5 credit hours of enrollment in the public school district. All part-time students must also meet all other eligibility requirements set by the board, administration and coach/sponsor prior to participating and for continued participation in the sport or activity. This includes all eligibility and other requirements of the Nebraska School Activities Association and any other governing bodies for the activity.

Transportation. Part-time school students are not entitled to transportation or reimbursement for transportation to and from the school for class attendance purposes, unless required by law. Eligible part-time students are entitled to transportation to and from practices and extracurricular events to the same extent as the school district’s full-time students, but part-time students must arrange their own transportation and arrive timely to the designated pick-up point for such transportation.

Option Enrollment. Students may not enroll on a part-time basis pursuant to the school’s option enrollment program.

Application for Enrollment. The parent or guardian of an exempt school student who is of appropriate age to attend school, resides in the school district, has not graduated from high school, and has not received a graduate equivalency diploma must meet admission requirements and file an application for enrollment on forms provided by the school district by August 20th of the year of enrollment. For second semester high school courses, the application must be filed by January 10th. For students who move into the district midsemester, the application must be filed within 20 days of moving into the district. The administration shall review the application, determine whether to approve or deny it, notify the parent or guardian, and schedule enrollment at an educationally appropriate time in the building or attendance center of the administration’s choice. Enrollment does not carry over from one year to the next, and the parent or guardian of an exempt school student must apply for enrollment each school year.

Grades and Academic Honors. Exempt school students shall receive grades, report cards, and transcripts, but shall not be eligible to graduate, receive a diploma or qualify for class ranking unless they meet all district requirements for such including earning a sufficient number of credit hours and semesters of attendance. Applicability of School Rules. Exempt school students are subject to all rules and regulations of the board of education and administration as set forth in policy, handbooks or other communications, as well as the rules and directives of the building administration and teaching personnel. They must remain on the school campus during scheduled classes but must leave the school campus when not engaged in a course or course-related activity unless the course or courseactivity requires their presence or the building principal approves their presence. Students who violate school policies, rules, or directives shall be subject to disciplinary procedures up to and including suspension and expulsion.

Exempt school students who are not enrolled in at least 10-credit hours may not participate in extracurricular sports and activities. All part-time students must meet all other eligibility requirements set by the board, administration and coach/sponsor prior to participating in the sport or activity. Exempt school students who transfer into the district will be considered a transfer student and shall be ineligible for varsity competition for ninety school days unless the home school is located in the same school district as the high school to which the student is transferring.

The school district will determine whether credits awarded to exempt transfer students will be accepted for the purpose of eligibility for extracurricular sports and activities pursuant to the board’s policy on Grade Placement and Academic Credits of Transfer Students.

Transportation. Exempt school students are not entitled to transportation or reimbursement for transportation.

Option Enrollment. Students may not enroll on a part-time basis pursuant to the school’s option enrollment program.