FAQs

Intentional Integration Initiative (III) FAQs

Email questions to:  Integrationinfo@somsd.k12.nj.us

1. When will the SOMSD Intentional Integration Initiative (III) begin?

• The District’s III began in the Fall  2021 with the incoming  Kindergarten class and continued to build year by year. 

2. How was the III plan implemented?

• Our plan included a pacing of implementation, beginning with the rising kindergarteners of September 2021  (yr 1). We continue to integrate one grade per year. The goal is to be fully integrated in grades K - 8 by 2026.

3. What criteria will be used to determine what schools students will be placed in?

• Utilizing a modified Berkeley Approach for our Integration methodology, an algorithm will be developed that creates micro-neighborhoods and utilizes the following variables for student placement:  

  • Parental Education Level

  • Parental Income

  • Sibling Preference

  • Proximity

* While the District monitors the impact of III via racial demographics, race is not a determinant for placement.

4. When will parents be notified of their child(ren)'s school placement?  How will parents be notified, by email or USPS? 

• Kindergarten families will be notified of their child’s placement before the end of the school year.  Families of rising 6th graders will be notified of their placements in early May 2024.   Parents/guardians will be notified of their placements via the email address provided by the parents/guardians.

5. If a parent is not satisfied with their child's school placement (due to possible distance or other matter) can they appeal?

• If a family believes they have an extraordinary hardship based on a placement decision, they can submit their hardship for review by emailing the Intentional Integration Team at integrationinfo@somsd.k12.nj.us.  However, there is no guarantee of a change in placement due to the purpose and guidelines of our Intentional Integration; exceptions would directly reduce the efficacy of the algorithm. 

6. Will my elementary and / or secondary children attend the same school? 

• The algorithm will apply to incoming intentional integration initiative students to determine placement options. The district will attempt to keep siblings in the same school, to the extend that space is available at the school. 

7. When will Kindergarten orientation take place?

• Information regarding Kindergarten orientation for your child’s school will be forthcoming from building principals.

8. What will happen if a family decides to place their child in a private school and return the following year?  Will the child be placed in a school using the original intentional placement received?

• No, upon reenrollment your child will go through the III algorithm process again.   

9. Will before school care and aftercare be available and what times will it be available?

• The District has partnered with the South Mountain YMCA in the past to provide before and/or after-school care to families at the PreK - 5 grade levels.  

10. When will I know who my child’s teacher is? 

• Teacher assignments will be provided one week prior to the start of the new school year. 

11.  Will transportation be provided by the District? 

• Per Policy 8600, students who reside at least 1.25 miles from their school will be provided with transportation services. 

12. I have an older child who attends Seth Boyden as an “OPT-IN” student; will my 4th grade / 5th grade  child need to “OPT-IN” as well? 

• No. If an older sibling is enrolled in placement, that is factored into the algorithm.

13. What if my child needs Multilingual Learner Services, what school will my child be placed in? 

• All students who qualify for Multilingual Learner Services will be placed in Clinton Elementary School.

14. I have a child already attending my neighborhood elementary school, will my incoming kindergartener be placed in another school? 

• If an older sibling is enrolled, placement of the younger child will be factored into the algorithm.

15. How will newly enrolled Kindergarten, 1st and 6th, and 7th grade  students be placed after the initial placement? Will they be put into the algorithm or will they be placed where there is space? 

• Newly enrolled applications will be placed in the algorithm and placement information will be shared with parent/guardians within a specified timeframe.

16. I will be enrolling my older child in the summer, how do I ensure that child is placed in the same school as my kindergarten student? 

• If a younger student is placed via the III and the older sibling enrolls, the older sibling goes to the same school as long as space is available for the older sibling.

17. What happens if there is no space in a certain school? 

• Students will be placed in a school where space is available. 

18. My child has an IEP, how will they be impacted by the Intentional Integration Program? 

• If your child has an IEP, your child will be placed  according to their needs and program based on their IEP. 

19. How will Kindergarten students who are  twins or multiples be factored  into the District's algorithm?

• In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:36-38.a.(1), a parent/guardian of twins or higher order multiples, as well as other  siblings (including adoptive or foster siblings) in the same grade, enrolled in the same Kindergarten through eighth-grade level at  the same public school may request, in writing, the children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms. The     Principal shall make the classroom placement requested in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:36-38.a.(1).