Open Choice - Q&A
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 25 surrounding school districts.
Q. How do I enroll my child in this program?
A. 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?
A. No, your child must be currently enrolled in and attending a Public School at the time of the application.
Q. How will my child get to his or her new school outside of our home district?
A. 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.
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?
A. As long as the child continues to reside in your current district, any child entering a school in another district 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.
Q. How will I know which districts have openings?
R. A list of all the districts and schools with openings by grade level will be published each year.
Q. May I apply for enrollment for my child in one particular district or school?
A. Yes, you may request first, second and third choice. We will try to accommodate these choices.
Q. Will my child’s sisters and brothers be allowed to attend the same school outside of my district?
A. Siblings who are requesting to be in the same school district will be given preference in the lottery.
Q. What if my child attends a school identified as “in need of improvement?”
A. Your child will receive preference in the lottery.
Q. Who pays for this program? Will the parent have to pay tuition for the student?
A. The state pays a grant of $2,500 per student enrolled in the program to the receiving districts. There is no tuition cost to parents.
Q. Does the program provide for the needs of special education students?
A. Yes. The first $2,500 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 meeting, and developing and IEP belongs to the receiving district.
ACES Programs and Schools are not part of the Open Choice lottery.
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