STUDENT ADMISSION AND TUITION                                                           F14

 

Policy Overview

It is the policy of the Montpelier School District to offer high quality educational opportunities to resident and non-resident students alike in a fiscally responsible manner.

Resident Students

Any pupil who is a legal resident of Montpelier as defined in 16 V.S.A. sec. 1075 shall be eligible to attend the Montpelier School District.  The board expects that school administrators will use reliable methods to check the residency of students who are enrolled in the school district.

Non-Resident Students

The tuition rate will be set annually by the board according to state law.

At any time during the school year, any pupil who is not a legal resident of Montpelier will be required to pay tuition unless he or she is participating in an approved interdistrict agreement for student enrollment or has obtained a waiver of tuition.

Subject to state and federal non-discrimination requirements, a non-resident who applies for admission as a tuition student shall be admitted if space is available and the student is in good standing at the school or schools most recently attended.  Good standing exists when the applicant shows:

·       that he or she has not been legally dismissed or suspended for more than ten days during the preceding twelve months for disciplinary reasons, and

A non-resident who is unable to provide evidence of good standing may be admitted as a tuition student if he or she presents information demonstrating that there is a reasonable likelihood that he or she will benefit from and succeed in the programs offered by the Montpelier School District.

Waivers of Tuition

The board authorizes the superintendent to grant waivers of tuition in his or her discretion of up to 90 consecutive calendar days when a student who is a resident of Montpelier thereafter becomes a non-resident.

The board authorizes the superintendent to grant waivers of tuition in his or her discretion of up to 60 consecutive calendar days when a non-resident student who is planning to move to Montpelier enrolls in the Montpelier Public Schools.

In all other situations, non-resident students seeking tuition waivers must request waivers from the school board.

Kindergarten and First Grade Admission

All children must be five years old on or before September 1 to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten.  All children who were not Montpelier School District students in kindergarten must be six years old on or before September 1 to be eligible for enrollment in Grade 1.  The intent of setting this standard age of admission is to help ensure a successful school experience through the advantages of physical, emotional, social, and intellectual maturity. 

Interdistrict Agreements for Student Enrollment

The board believes that exchanges of students between school districts in Vermont can provide educational and personal benefits for the students involved.  It is appropriate for the Montpelier schools to allow and encourage such exchanges when the best interests of students are being served.  The board has the authority to enter into interdistrict agreements for student enrollment and student exchange agreements with other schools in Vermont as permitted under state law.

International Students

The board further recognizes that the acceptance of international students has the valued potential of providing Montpelier students with unique opportunities to learn about and understand peoples and cultures other than their own.  Accordingly, the board encourages such programs and similarly encourages the providing of programs that allow Montpelier students an opportunity to study and live in other countries.  Up to four international students attending Montpelier schools, sponsored by an agency or organization whose primary purpose is to provide international student study programs and that is approved by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), may have their tuition waived by the superintendent. 

Transportation

Whenever a non-resident student enrolls in the Montpelier School District through an interdistrict agreement, tuition, or tuition waiver, the student’s parents and guardians or the student shall be responsible for the transportation of the student to and from the school.

Monitoring Reports

The superintendent shall report annually to the board each May on the number of tuition waivers requested, the number of waivers granted, their timing, their length, and other pertinent information regarding waivers and international students.

 

 

Date Warned:     March 24, 2006

Date Adopted:     April 5, 2006