JFBB - SCHOOL CHOICE POLICY
RSU 1 SCHOOL CHOICE POLICY
RSU 1 permits parents and guardians to select which public school of the district their children may attend. Any choice under this plan may be made subject to grades taught at that school, space, and programming availability and other factors determined by the board of directors. Resident students are always guaranteed placement in their school. Arrowsic will always have school choice within the district. Budget conditions may affect placement opportunities.
In order to provide for adequate planning to implement this vision, the board has established the following process:
- An initial school choice application must be completed by the parent/guardian by May 1. Applications received after that date may be considered. Once a student is accepted by a school of their choice, they do not have to reapply each year.
- School choice must not require the hiring of additional staff in any particular school and should not increase class sizes beyond what is outlined in our class size policy - IIB.
- School choice is considered on a first come, first serve basis, subject to space and program availability. Requests for school choice are to be submitted to the Regional School Unit 1 Central Office. Requests are stamped with date received, and a spreadsheet of requests is developed and shared with building administrators after May 1st.
- Parents and guardians will be notified in writing as soon as possible, but no later than June 1st of their child’s placement for the following year.
- Students who move to RSU 1 during the school year are eligible for school choice the following school year.
- Parents who make a school choice placement outside of their neighborhood school will be given every consideration for siblings that may choose to go to the same school.
- Space and programming capabilities will be factors that the superintendent and principal will take into account when making any school choice decision.
- School choice transportation is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Please note that the C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Pre-K program has a lottery system. If you choose/are granted a C.H.O.I.C.E.S. school-based placement that is not in your neighborhood school, this does not guarantee enrollment for the Kindergarten year. All requests for enrollment at a school other than your neighborhood school must be done in accordance with this policy. Cross Reference: Class Size Policy IIB Adopted: December 15, 2008 Revised: March 23, 2010; July 23, 2012; December 21, 2015; April 28, 2025