Can districts turn down students?

PERKINS TWP. — After a parent criticized Perkins Schools for denying that child's open enrollment, district officials discussed their policy. A post online from the parent indicated that the district had rejected this child's open enrollment application despite having been enrolled in the district previously. The Register sent questions to district officials, seeking an explanation on how Perkins handles open enrollment and if a previously enrolled open enrollment student can be rejected. Superintendent Lonny Rivera said that while the district cannot comment on individual students' enrollment, "No applications have been denied this year based on a student's disability or any other unlawful purpose." Rivera shared details on the district's open enrollment process: • The district currently has 348 open-enrollment students. • Applications are open from April 1 to May 31 every year. • Applications must be completed and approved annually. • The district reviews each application individually. What does the state say? The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's website answers questions on when a district could turn away students: • Once a building's capacity is reached, the district does not have to consider new applications. Students who are already enrolled or living in the school's attendance region are given preference over new applicants • School districts create their own applications, procedures and timelines for applications, all of which are to be adopted by the board and included in policy and procedure documents. • Districts can refuse students for several reasons, including racial balance. The district should specify its criteria in its board policy. Classroom capacity could be another reason for denial if the district has its capacities outlined in its policies. If a student is suspended or expelled for at least 10 days straight, that child could also be denied. Special education students could be turned away if a program is not offered or if space is unavailable • Students are not guaranteed open enrollment in future years after acceptance. Enrollment is annual, and, each year, a district can limit enrollment based on capacity or decide not to participate in open enrollment. However, those who have participated in open enrollment in previous years are given priority. District policy The district's board last revised its interdistrict open enrollment — district-to-district enrollment rather than district building-to -uilding enrollment — policy in 2019. Any student from any Ohio district is welcome to apply and enroll free of tuition costs if that child meets all requirements listed in the policy. Perkins Schools' open enrollment policy includes the following: • Application procedures, including deadlines for applications and acceptance or rejection notifications to students and the superintendent of other districts must be made. • Capacity limits by grade level, building and education program • There is no requirement for academic, athletic, artistic or other skill or proficiency. • There is no limit on admitting students with disabilities unless services are unavailable. • Students are not required to be proficient in English. Enrollment declining? Perkins Schools officials said earlier this year that its overall enrollment was decreasing and that trend was expected to continue in the future. In the 2012-13 school year, there were 2,437 students enrolled in Perkins Schools. This year, the district dropped to 1,899, which counts those between preschool and high school. And projections show a continued downward trend, estimating 1,750 in the 2031-32 school year.