Enrollment – Admission Criteria & Process

Enrollment – Admission Criteria & Process

City-Wide Boundaries: Any child that resides in Chicago may attend

 

Application Process

Applications are distributed annually between mid January through April 14th. The application deadline is April 14, 2010.  The Lottery for all LEARN campuses will be held on April 15, 2010.

Once the application is completed and submitted to the office, the following will occur:

  1. Application is date stamped
  2. Application ID given a colored ticket
  3. Parent is given the corresponding number if requested
  4. The lottery system is briefly explained to parents (via a flyer and promotional material including all deadlines)
  5. A 2nd colored corresponding ticket is placed in a box for the lottery

Applicants will receive a notice of flyer of the up coming open Houses, Informational sessions and Information on the Lottery Process.

 

Open House

To assist parents in making a decision in a timely manner, open houses/ info sessions will be offered throughout the year.  The sessions offered on a Saturday morning in the months of February, March, April, October and November. Prospective students and their families are required to attend an information session about the school and the lottery process.  The purpose for this requirement is so that there is a clear understanding by families of:

  • the school’s policies and procedures
  • the school’s core principles
  • the organization of the school
  • general academic and behavioral expectations
  • placement process

Families decide, after having this knowledge and the opportunity to ask questions, whether LEARN is the school for them. Tours may be provided depending on the availability of the site.

 

Annual Lottery Process
The LEARN Charter Lottery is an annual event that is usually held in mid to late April.  This year the lottery will be held on April 15, 2010.  All slots will be filled using the lottery process. 

Process
The Lottery method is very similar to most school lotteries

  1. Each student with a current application to LEARN Charter School is assigned a number that is aligned with the date on which they applied.
  2. Using a lottery drum, the tickets are randomly selected
  3. The random selection occurs in the presence of two administrators and at least one other staff/faculty member.
  4. As the tickets drop out of the drum, the tickets number is read aloud by one employee and recorded by the second employee.
  5. The Administrator pulls the corresponding applications to begin the admissions process
  6. The process is video taped and occurs in the conference room
  7. Within 48 hours, the parents are called and informed of their child’s admissions to LEARN Charter.  By April 24, 2010 all parents must accept the invitation to LEARN or decline the offer.  They can accept when notified by phone verbally or must fill out a form which will be mailed to all families who aren’t ready to commit to becoming a LEARN scholar.
    1. If the phones are disconnected or if the parents are not ready to accept the invitation a letter will be sent which must be filled out by April 24, 2010 to accept the invitation.
  8.   On May 8, 2010 all position will be filled if the parents have not accepted the invitation to LEARN.
  9. A temporary waiting list is developed that is effective April 15, 2010 and expires January 15, 2011 of the following year. 
  10. Registration fees are due by June 2, 2010.  On June 8th all slots will be filled for students who have not paid their registration fee.

 

After the Lottery (Admissions)

Students that are selected through the lottery process will receive a post card (mailed no later than April 20, 2010) informing the parents of their admission status or number on the waiting list. (The post card will also have a reminder of the registration fee which will be due on June 2, 2010 the dates for the mandatory parent student orientations will also be provided). Parents will have until May 8, 2010 to make a decision and return the post card regarding enrollment for the Fall Quarter. After all the first round lottery picks have been called, the Administrator begins pulling from the waiting list to replace the admits that declined.

Students and parent will also be scheduled for a new student orientation which will occur before the first day of school. All Academic Records from Kindergarten to the third grade level (prior to admission) and all test scores from previous years are required.

LEARN will also need the following

  1. Birth Certificate
  2. Social Security Card
  3. Emergency Information
  4. Updated medical and dental shot records
  5. Any special needs or circumstances regarding your child
  6. The administrative Asst will call the family if additional information is needed

Falsification can lead to disqualifying your child

New Parent and Student Orientation

Once students are officially admitted, parents must attend the mandatory parent orientation at the chosen campus.  During the orientation parents will be given the parent handbook and the following will be discussed:

  • Assessment or placement test
  • Discipline policy and procedures
  • Step downs
  • Uniform Policy
  • Academic Probation
  • Given Parent Handbook
  • School Calendar/Parent Newsletter

Mid Year Admissions/ Transfer In

  • Mid year transfers are accepted between August 1-January 15th; LEARN does not accept students after January 15th.  The mid year admits are pulled from the waiting list for students.
  • Parents are given 3 working days to accept or reject the offer and transfer students are required to take a placement test within 7 days of admission.
  • All grade level placements will be based on the LEARN Charter placement test/results, Master teacher input and past Standardized Test results.  LEARN does not usually consider letter grades from previous schools as an academic criteria.

Withdrawals

  • When students transfer out or withdraw from LEARN a slot becomes available.  The admissions process is the same as for mid year transfers, see below.
  • If a student withdraws after January 15th the slot remains OPEN for the remainder of the year (June).  LEARN does not admit student past this date due to the rigorous curriculum and adjustment for new students.
  • If parents falsify any statements, grades, behaviors / educational background of the student, it can result in immediate withdrawal from LEARN.
  • Students can be asked to leave to LEARN due to behavior or other reasons.
  • If a student has not been withdrawn or transferred out by January 15th but continues to have difficulty following LEARN rules , most likely , the student will need to find another school at the end of the school year (June).

Priority Enrollment
LEARN supports and practices the automatic enrollment of children of employees and the siblings of any current students in the admissions process.  These children are not included in the lottery process. 

 

Annual Waiting List
LEARN Charter School maintains an annual waiting list from the April 15th lottery date and expires in early January.  After January 15th of each year, parents must reapply for the next grade level.
The waiting list does not carry over from one year to the next.

  • Parents must call every year for admission roll over
  • New applications are accepted year round

LEARN generally does not admit new students after January 15th due to students having a difficult time adapting to the rigorous curriculum and new environment.

Annual Mailing and Recruitment

  • Several times a year, LEARN Charter School sends out a mass mailing to homes in the nearby communities highlighting our recruitment efforts and application deadline.
  • Invitations to a LEARN Open House is sent (mass mailing to homes in the nearby communities highlighting our recruitment efforts and application deadline.
  • The school website that contains important information about the school.
  • Flyers are also distributed at local childcare centers, with the goal of recruiting students for our pre-k program.
  • A waiting list is kept at the school from April- January
  • Annual distribution of application in January.
  • Post cards are sent (every January) to parents on the current waiting list reminding them to reapply

Admission Team
All applicants will be processed and date stamped by the Administrative Assistant or administrator.
There will be a Monthly Admissions Meeting lead by the Admissions counselor to discuss class openings and the best setting for any incoming students.  This for grades Pre-K thru 4th grades only.
After the meeting applications are pulled from the waiting on a monthly basis for admissions and testing. The Administrative Assistant will give a monthly or running account and email report informing the administrative team of the classroom opening including

  • Grade level
  • Total number of opening per classroom / grade level
  • Teacher
  • Classroom#
  • Current number of students in that classroom