ACES
OPEN CHOICE
Family Information Handout
Open Choice Contacts
Carolyn McNally – Director, Development
(203) 498-6842
email:[email protected]
Lynn Bailey – Open Choice Coordinator
(203) 498-6843
Email: [email protected]
Ryki Pearce – Family School Liaison
(203) 498-6845
Email: [email protected]
Karen Gay-Eaddy – Family School Liaison
(203) 498-6877
Email: [email protected]
Fax #: (203) 498-6891
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SENDING DISTRICT
ACES
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CONTACT DISTRICTS
SEND APPLICATIONS TO FAMILIES
CONDUCT LOTTERIES
MATCH SEATS WITH STUDENTS
ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION
PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF
MEET WITH FAMILIES AND STAFF
TROUBLESHOOT
LIAISON SERVICES
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SEND STUDENT RECORDS responsibility shared with families
PARTICIPATE IN PPTs- Kathleen
Abate, New Haven representative
PAY FOR EXCESS SPED COSTS
RECEIVING DISTRICT
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NOTIFY ACES OF OPEN SEATS
PROVIDE EDUCATION
COMMUNICATE WITH and provide
info to FAMILIES/ACES
COORDINATE PPTS (invite sending
district and ACES)
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FAMILIES
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REGISTER STUDENTS
PARTICIPATE IN
SCHOOL/COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
SUPPORT STUDENTS
PARTICIPATE IN ACES INFO MTGS
MAKE SURE RECEIVING SCHOOL
HAS ALL STUDENT RECORDS
PARTICIPATE IN PPTS
TRANSPORT STUDENTS IN CASE
OF ILLNESS OR DISCIPLINE
CT STATE DEPT ED.
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PROVIDE FUNDING THROUGH
LEGISLATURE
COLLECT REPORTS
SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND ACES
Open Choice Staff Roles
Coordinator
LYNN BAILEY
• Applications and
enrollments
• Transportation
• After school activities
(HS)
• Lottery
• Verifications /
Information updates
Family/School Liaison
RYKI PEARCE
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(Middle & High Schools)
Home visits
School visits
Attend PPT meetings
Foster communication
students / families /
schools
Track student success
Open Choice Staff Roles
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Family/School Liaison
Karen Gay-Eaddy
Development Director
Carolyn McNally
(Elementary Schools)
Home visits
School visits
Attend PPT meetings
Foster communication
students/families/
schools
• Administrator of Open
Choice Program
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
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4.
How do you get your openings?
What’s the application process?
Why is the bus ride so long?
If my child goes to a private school can
s/he participate in Open Choice?
5. What if I’m unhappy with the school—
can my child go to another school?
6. What happens if my child is retained or
doesn’t have enough credits?
ACES - Open Choice
Open Choice is part of a law passed by the legislature of the State of
Connecticut to help reduce the racial, ethnic, and economic isolation
of public school students. This law (P.A. 97-290) allows students from
New Haven to attend school in the other districts and students from other
districts to attend school in New Haven, where there are appropriate
grade openings. Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES) is
coordinating Open Choice for New Haven and the surrounding school
districts.
Q.
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How do I enroll my child in this program?
The families of all children wishing to participate in Open Choice must fill
out the an application and return it to ACES by designated deadline,
indicating your preferences for districts and schools. You will be notified
if your child has been accepted or is placed on a waiting list. If accepted,
at that time, you may either accept or refuse placement.
Q.
My child lives in New Haven or the suburbs. Is he or she
automatically eligible to participate in Open Choice?
No, your child must be currently enrolled in and attending a Public School
at the time of the application.
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How will my child get to his or her new school outside of our home district?
ACES will provide transportation for all students in Open Choice. In selecting an
appropriate district for your child, bear in mind that the bus ride will be longer than
the ride to your local school. Transportation for approved after-school activities will
be provided for high school students. For middle school student
transportation will be provided until 2012.
Q.
How long will my child be able to attend his or her new school? And can my
child participate in all activities in the new school?
As long as the child continues to reside in your current district, any child entering a
school in another district through Open Choice may choose to attend school in that
district through graduation from high school. Your child will be considered a
member of the new school, and therefore, can participate in all activities, and is
subject to all of the school’s policies.
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How will I know which districts have openings?
A list of all the districts and schools with openings by grade level will be published
each year in the Open Choice application. They also will be posted online at
www.aces.org. Click Services, Program Development then Open Choice.
Q.
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May I apply for enrollment for my child in one particular district or school?
Yes, you may request first, second and third choice. We will try to accommodate
these choices.
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What if I’m unhappy with the school – can my child go to another school?
Once your child has been placed at a school, you would have to re-enter the lottery
for the following year and s/he would lose her/his place at the school s/he was
attending.
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Will my child’s sisters and brothers be allowed to attend the same school
outside of my district?
Siblings who are requesting to be in the same school district will be given
preference in the lottery. However, a slot is not guaranteed.
Q.
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What if my child attends a school identified as “in need of improvement?”
Your child will receive preference in the lottery. However, a slot is not guaranteed.
Q.
Who pays for this program? Will the parent have to pay tuition for the
student?
The state pays a grant of $3,000 per student enrolled in the program to the
receiving districts. There is no tuition cost to parents.
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Does the program provide for the needs of special education students?
Yes. The first $2,000 of extra costs is paid by the receiving district and the
remainder is paid by the district where the student lives. The responsibility for
holding the planning and placement team meetings, and developing an IEP
belongs to the receiving district.
Q.
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How do you get your openings?
Every year Open Choice receives our openings from the superintendents of each
district.
Q.
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What’s the application process?
Application will be distributed to your child’s school in March of each year. The
application must be received by the specified deadline on the application in order
to qualify for the lottery.
Q.
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Why is the bus ride so long?
The bus has to pick up several students throughout New Haven or the suburbs.
The bus makes several stops along the way and then must drive out to the
districts. Also, some buses may have students from 2 to 3 different schools on
them.
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If my child goes to a private school can s/he participate in Open Choice?
No, your child must be enrolled and attending a public school.
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What happens if my child is retained or doesn’t have enough credits?
If your child is retained or does not have enough credits to move to the grade your
selected, s/he will lose the spot.
ACES Programs and Schools are not part of the Open Choice lottery.
Open Choice
Impact on Families
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Transportation-long bus rides
Participate in school activities/meetings
Student self esteem
Racial and cultural diversity
Student goals (college prep)
ACES program support
OPEN CHOICE OUTCOMES
• STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
• STUDENT AND FAMILY
SATISFACTION
• FRIENDSHIPS
• SPORTS/CLUBS
• OVERCOMING
STEREOTYPES
• COLLEGE