Policy 5119

Admission

Option Students

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board:  7/25/2023
Last Revision: 
Original publish date: 05/25/2010
Related policies & regulations:  
Legal references:  Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 79-232 to 79-246, 79-1094 et al., LB 705 § 55

  

The Lincoln Board of Education will annually adopt a resolution stating the timeline and parameters for acceptance of option enrollment students by October 15 for the following school year. In addition, the resolution will state the circumstances under which late applications to option in will be accepted. The resolution will further set the standards and conditions for granting a request for release in the case of a late-filed application to option out of Lincoln Public Schools.

 

An option student who has been accepted for enrollment in Lincoln Public Schools may request a particular school building, but the building assignment of the option student shall be determined by the Office of Student Services. Option enrollment students shall be assigned to a school open to transfer and no option student shall be assigned to a school which the District categorizes as closed to transfer. Any program, class, grade level, special education program, or school building may be closed to option students based upon available staff, facilities, projected enrollment of resident students, and availability of special education programs. Capacity for special education services shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Director of Special Education or designee. Open/closed status of programs, grade levels and school buildings will be posted on the District website by October 15 for the following school year. Policies 5120, 5121, 5122 and 5123 shall not apply to option enrollment students.

 

This policy applies to school buildings or grades in school buildings designated as closed to transfer under the following circumstances:

1. A resident student who moves out of the District and is approved as an option student may be admitted to complete the current school year at the building they attended as a resident student.
2. An option student may be permitted to attend a building or grade that the District categorizes as closed to transfer if a sibling is attending that same attendance center for that requested school year.
3. An option student who is assigned to a building may complete their education at that same building.

An option student may be permitted to attend a building or grade that the District categorizes as closed to transfer if an overriding educational need exists as determined by a Review Committee of the Board of Education. The procedure for review may be limited by the Review Committee to written submissions only. The decision of the Review Committee shall be final.

 

Notwithstanding any of the above or any other policy of the Board of Education, any school building with fewer than 20 students which is owned or made part of Lincoln Public Schools shall be closed to transfer (including transfer for continued attendance) by Lincoln Public Schools resident students and shall not be the building assignment for option students.

An option student shall not be entitled to transportation except as required by law. Transportation or transportation reimbursement will be provided in the following circumstances:

1. The Lincoln Public School District may, upon mutual agreement with the parent or legal guardian of an option student, provide transportation to the option student on the same basis as provided for resident students. The school district may charge the parents of each option student transported a fee sufficient to recover the additional costs of such transportation.
2. Option students who qualify for free lunches are eligible for either free transportation or transportation reimbursement from the option school district. The school determines which (transportation or reimbursement) to provide.
3. For option students receiving special education services, the transportation services required in the student’s Individualized Education Plan shall be provided by the resident school district.