Admissions

AFC Lancaster Lions Academy Tryouts — AFC Lancaster Lions Academy tryouts students in full compliance with school law, and students are accepted ONLY on based on their athletic tryout. No students are rejected or denied due to academic performance. A waiting list for each grade and athletic major is created based on a rubric score determined at the time of the tryout. The registrar contacts the appropriate people on the waiting list in the event of an opening at that grade and major level. AFC Lancaster Lions Academy students attend from approximately 5 school districts. The majority of students who withdraw from charter, return to their home school districts. In some cases, students enter private or parochial education or transfer into a cyber education program. Others leave due to transportation issues, personal family issues or because they find the program too rigorous.

Purpose

The Board of Directors of AFC Lancaster Lions Academy recognizes that its enrollment policy must reflect current requirements of the Pennsylvania Public School Code and 22 Pa. Code, Chapter 11. Therefore, Charter School, as a public charter school, complies with these enrollment procedures to ensure that both resident and eligible non-residents are promptly enrolled through the policy provisions set forth below.

Entitlement to Education

Every child of school age who is a resident of a Pennsylvania school district is entitled to a public school education. Resident students include those residing with their parent(s) and non-resident students living with a Pennsylvania school district resident who is supporting the child gratis and seeking enrollment.

Once the required enrollment documentation described below is provided, Charter School must enroll non-resident children and permit them to attend school. A child should be permitted to attend school on the next school day after the day on which the child is presented for enrollment, and in all cases within five (5) business days of Charter School’s receipt of the required documents, if a space exists pursuant to the school’s Admission/Lottery Policy.

Required Enrollment Documentation

Except when a child is homeless, whenever a child of school age is presented for enrollment by a parent(s), a Pennsylvania school district resident, or any other person having charge or care of the child,

Charter School shall require that the following information be documented before enrolling the child and allowing the child to attend school:

1. Proof of the child’s age

Any one of the following constitutes acceptable documentation: birth certificate; Notarized copy of birth certificate; baptismal certificate; copy of the record of baptism – notarized or duly certified and showing the date of birth; notarized statement from the parents or another relative indicating the date of birth; a valid passport; a prior school record indicating the date of birth.

2. Immunizations required by law

Acceptable documentation includes: either the child’s immunization record, a written statement from the former school district or from a medical office that the required immunizations have been administered, or that a required series is in progress, or verbal assurances from the former school district or a medical office that the required immunizations have been completed, with records to follow.

3. Proof of residency

Acceptable documentation includes: a mortgage statement, a lease or a current utility bill for residence. While more than one form of residency confirmation may be required, Charter School should be flexible in verifying residency, and should consider what information is reasonable in light of the family’s situation. See the paragraph on Homeless Students for guidance in that situation. (Also see attached Residency Affidavit.)

4. Parent Registration Statement

A sworn statement attesting to whether the student has been or is suspended or expelled for offenses involving drugs, alcohol, weapons, infliction of injury or violence on school property must be provided for a student to be admitted to any school entity. Charter School may not deny or delay a child’s school enrollment based on the information contained in a disciplinary record or sworn statement. However, Charter School may wait to enroll a student until a current period of expulsion has expired.

5. Home Language Survey

All students seeking first time enrollment in a school shall be given a home language survey in accordance with requirements of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Enrollment of the student may not be delayed in order to administer the Home Language Survey.

Documents Which May Be Requested But As a Condition of Enrollment – Items Which May Be Requested

Although Charter School may ask for any of the information below, Charter School may not require it as a condition of enrolling or admitting a child and a child’s enrollment or attendance may not be delayed until these documents are provided. Among the documents that Charter School may request are: picture identification, health or physical examination records, academic records, attendance records, Individualized Education Program, and other special education records. In addition, a school district may not require that a physical examination be conducted as a condition of enrollment.

1. Registration Form

2. Documentation Required From Other Sources

3. Student Education Records

4. Disciplinary Records

5. Prohibited Requests – Items Which May Not Be Requested

Parent Communication

Communications to parents regarding registration procedures, dates, and when applicable, a description of the lottery process.