Walpole Enrollment Procedures

Walpole METCO Program Enrollment Procedures:

Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program has approximately 3,300 students from Boston and Springfield who attend public schools in participating communities. Funded by the State Legislature under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 76 §12A and administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the METCO program is the second oldest voluntary inter-district school assignment program in the country dedicated to increasing diversity and reducing racial isolation.

The Walpole Public Schools do not discriminate in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in its services, programs and activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI); on the basis of sex, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; on the basis of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); or on the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1974 (Age Discrimination Act). Nor does it discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, disability, or homelessness status in accordance with Chapter 622 of the Acts of 1971 (M.G.L. c.76 §5), Chapter 151B, and/or Chapter 151C of the General Laws.

Walpole Public Schools is a proud member of the METCO program. It is Walpole’s belief that the METCO experience should provide a strong academic foundation, as well as an environment rich in cultural, educational, ethnic, and racial diversity. Enrollment is based on annual program funding, available seating, and completion of the intake process.

The program enrollment process begins by completing the required application through the online Schoolmint.com portal or at METCO Headquarters at 90 Roxbury Street, Roxbury, MA.

Walpole Enrollment Procedures

The Walpole METCO Program Administrator will inform METCO Headquarters of the number of student files the district is requesting for a particular school year. Walpole Public Schools will only request student files based on the number of eligible vacancies they have for each eligible grade level. METCO Headquarters will thereafter only send completed student files to Walpole METCO Office for referral. Siblings of current METCO students will be considered for enrollment, if vacancies exist in the sibling’s grade level Any prospective student whose application is referred to the Walpole METCO Office will be offered admission unless the applicant chooses not to complete enrollment. Admission process includes the following:

• New Parent Information Session

• Invite student and family to the school

• Register student for Walpole Public Schools

• Complete any assessments (EL if needed)

The District, in making admission, waitlist, and enrollment decisions, does not consider a student’s disability, disability-related needs, or whether the District would be able to provide the aids or services identified in a student’s Section 504 plan or Individualized Education Program (IEP). A student requiring aids or services pursuant to an IEP or Section 504 Plan will be contacted by the Walpole Student Services office upon confirmed registration in the Walpole Public Schools to schedule a team meeting. Following registration, any and all decisions relative to the provision of aids or services within the Walpole Public Schools, or the appropriateness of placement or continued placement within the Walpole Public Schools, will be made through the team meeting process.

Walpole Public Schools follows the METCO Admission Policy. Further information about the METCO Admission Policy can be found at https://metcoinc.org/apply/policy/