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Open Enrollment - Choice of Schools: JFBA

  • Students: J
Open Enrollment - Choice of Schools: JFBA

Note: This version of the policy applies to Open Enrollment applications submitted for enrollment for the 2027-2028 school year. The window for 2027-2028 Open Enrollment applications opens December 1, 2026.

27J Schools recognizes that students may benefit from having a choice of public schools to attend that is not limited by school district boundaries or individual school enrollment boundaries.

  1. Definitions. For purposes of this policy the following definitions apply:

    1. Open Enrollment – The process by which students may enroll in a school other than their boundary school as determined by primary address. Open enrollment may occur through either the “choice” or “transfer” process.
    2. Choice – The annual process by which students, regardless of primary address, may apply to attend a 27J school where enrollment and program capacity exists.
    3. Administrative Transfer – Occurs when a student is assigned by district administration to attend a 27J school other than his or her boundary or assigned school. Administrative transfers remain in effect until modified by 27J Schools administration.
    4. Discretionary Transfer – Occurs when a student who resides within the 27J Schools enrollment boundaries seeks enrollment through the end of the current school year in a 27J school other than his or her boundary school.
    5. Boundary School – The student’s designated school as determined by primary address.
    6. Assigned School – The school a student is assigned to attend following enrollment in the school as a result of open enrollment, whether such enrollment is through the choice or transfer process.
    7. Primary Address – The address where the student resides the majority (51% or more) of the time, which will be designated as the primary household upon enrollment.

  2. School and District Boundaries

    1. Students will enroll in their boundary schools as determined by the address of their primary residence unless assigned to a different school via the open enrollment process.
      1. New School Openings, School Closings, and/or Boundary Changes. When the district opens new schools, closes a school or otherwise changes school boundaries, students will attend their newly assigned boundary school for the school year in which the boundary change becomes effective, unless the student applies for and is granted open enrollment.
    2. A student’s primary address will be verified at the time of initial enrollment and updated annually or upon any change of address during the year.
    3. Students will remain enrolled in their current schools while choice or transfer applications are pending approval.
    4. Students who move outside their current school boundary or the 27J Schools boundary during the school year may either enroll in their new boundary school as determined by primary address, or may elect to remain in their current school for the duration of the school year. Such students will be required to complete the Existing Student Registration process through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal during the update periods each year, or contact their school’s office to ensure that the school has current address and contact information. Such students will only be permitted to remain in the school for future school years through completion of either the choice or transfer processes identified in this policy.

  3. Nondiscrimination.

    District staff will not make any distinction nor discriminate against any student or family on account of race, color, sex, religion, national background, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or handicapping conditions when making determinations or recommendations for open enrollment applications.

  4. Legal Considerations.

    In implementing open enrollment options as required by law, districts are not required to:
    1. Make alterations in the structure of a requested school or make alterations to the arrangement or function of rooms and or equipment within a requested school.
    2. Establish and offer any particular program in a school if such program is not currently offered in the school.
    3. Alter or waive established eligibility criteria for participation in a particular program including age requirements, course prerequisites and required performance levels.
    4. Enroll any student who resides outside of district boundaries after October 1.

  5. Schools Closed to Open Enrollment Applications

    1. The Superintendent or designee may close or restrict open enrollment in a school, or in specific grades within a school, as necessary due to a lack of current or projected future space, programming, and/or staffing.
    2. A list of schools that are closed to new open enrollment applications for the upcoming school year will be announced annually no later than the last business day in November.

  6. Schools or Educational Programs with Specialized Admission Criteria

    1. Charter Schools. Application and enrollment in charter schools are governed by terms of each school’s contracts with the District. Deadlines and procedures for enrollment in charter schools differ from those in this policy. Parents seeking charter school enrollment should contact the school of interest for application information.
    2. Options Programs, Including Preschool. Similar to charter schools, the district has a variety of schools and programs which have specialized application and acceptance procedures, application timelines, and expectations for maintaining continued enrollment in the school or program. Parents seeking enrollment in options programs, including preschool, should contact the program of interest for application information.

  7. Choice Applications – Applicable for 27J Schools Resident and Out-of-District Students

    1. Priority Window: December 1 through December 31st.
    2. Applications received after the Priority Window to transfer from one school to another within 27J Schools are subject to guidelines in Section 8 of this policy.
    3. Parents submitting applications within the priority consideration period will be notified of open enrollment application status starting on February 2nd.
    4. Application forms for open enrollment will be available on the district website.
    5. Priority of Open Enrollment Applications.
      Open Enrollment Priorities (in order of priority):
      1. High School Juniors moving into their senior year in 27-28 shall be rolled up into their current school. These students may open enroll into their attendance area school and shall be the first priority.
      2. All other students must follow the open enrollment process.
      3. Current 27J Schools’ students.
      4. Students with a sibling currently enrolled and attending the requested school in 2027-2028 school year.
      5. Students with a sibling in 27J Schools who attends a school other than the one the student is applying to attend.
      6. 27J resident students
      7. Date and Time of open enrollment request
      8. 27J schools will work to make every effort to allow for high school students to remain in their 26-27 school for the 27-28 school year.

      Please note: Transportation for General Education students will be provided to Attendance Area students only. *

      * 27/28 juniors residing in the Rocky Vista High School attendance area will remain at Prairie View High School as there will be no junior class at Rocky Vista High School for that year. These students will be eligible for transportation service.

      As a condition of employment, regular full-time 27J employees may enroll their child(ren) student in any non-lottery 27J school subject to 5.1 and 6.2.

    6. If the Superintendent determines that a school is no longer able to serve choice students due to overcrowding, boundary changes, program limits, or staffing issues the same order of priorities will be applied to determine which students may remain enrolled.

  8. Discretionary Transfers – Applicable for 27J Schools Resident Students

    1. Discretionary transfer requests may be initiated by families of students who reside within 27J Schools boundaries but seek to have the student attend a 27J Schools school other than his or her boundary or currently assigned school.
    2. Duration. Discretionary transfer requests remain in effect for the duration of the current school year. Transfers typically occur only when the student or family seeks a school change outside the annual choice application deadline.
    3. Discretionary transfer requests must originate at the student’s current assigned school and must be approved by the principals of both schools involved. Except in emergency situations, transfer requests are only considered in coordination with quarter or semester grading period breaks.
    4. Discretionary transfer requests may be approved by both principals only to:
      1. Meet unique educational needs of the student that cannot be met at the current school. This does not include co-curricular or athletic preferences.
      2. Address verified safety concerns or family hardship.
    5. Charter School Students. Students who enroll in a 27J Schools charter school are expected to remain enrolled in the charter school for the duration of the school year or beyond. During the school year students may withdraw from a charter school to return to their 27J Schools boundary school by agreement of both school principals, in coordination with logical grading period breaks.
    6. Out of District Discretionary Transfer. Out of district students who enroll in a 27J school are expected to remain enrolled in that school for the duration of the school year or beyond. During the school year, students may withdraw from a school to return to their home district in coordination with logical grading period breaks.

  9. Administrative Transfers.

    Students may be assigned by District administration to attend a school other than their boundary or assigned school when unique circumstances warrant such placement. Such transfers will remain in effect until altered by District administration in coordination with the principal(s) of involved schools.

  10. Open Enrollment of Special Education Students

    1. Requests for open enrollment of special education students will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. The Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be used to determine if the requested school or program can meet the student’s needs without the District incurring additional costs or providing additional resources.

  11. Continuation, Renewal, Termination, Rescission and Denial of Open Enrollment

    1. Open enrollment students are typically permitted to remain in their assigned schools for the duration identified in the choice or transfer sections of this policy. However, open enrollment durations may be changed at the discretion of the Superintendent if overcrowding or other undesirable conditions develop, or when boundary areas change as a result of school openings, school closings or population movement trends.
    2. When a choice or transfer student is expelled, upon completion of the term of expulsion, the student will return to his or her 27J Schools boundary school or to his or her school district as determined by address, unless otherwise administratively transferred by District administration.
    3. Choice or transfer students may have the privilege of remaining in their assigned school of choice revoked in rare circumstances, including those situations when chronic absenteeism interferes with a student’s ability to succeed in the chosen school. Rescission of choice or transfer status will be at the discretion of the principal in cooperation with District administration, and may only occur following formal efforts to implement a support plan by which the student will be provided an opportunity and support resources to improve the issues of concern. Except for emergency situations, rescission of open enrollment will occur at semester or end of year grading period breaks.
    4. Additional grounds for termination or rescission of choice or transfer include but are not limited to falsifying, misrepresenting, or failing to disclose required enrollment information during the application process.
    5. Students who reside outside of the 27J Schools boundary may be denied admission, including open enrollment, under grounds established in Superintendent Policy JHD – Denial of Admission and Exclusions from Attendance.

  12. Miscellaneous

    1. Athletics and Extracurricular Participation. Students granted open enrollment through choice or transfer will have the same curricular and extracurricular opportunities as all other students, subject to those regulations established by the Colorado High School Activities Association.
    2. Transportation. Transportation for students enrolled pursuant to this policy, whether by the choice or the transfer process, is the family’s responsibility. Legal exceptions may apply if transportation is a required service as determined by state or federal law for identified populations of students, which may include students with disabilities or students experiencing homelessness.
    3. Appeals. Appeals of denied choice or transfer applications must be submitted in writing to the building principal who denied the request within five (5) business days of the date on which the notification was provided. Further appeals would be reviewed by the Chief Academic Officer, whose decision will be considered final.
Revised July 15, 2026 Revised June 15, 2017 Revised November 7, 2017 Revised January 7, 2021 Revised June 19, 2023 LEGAL REFS: C.R.S. 22-32-109(1) C.R.S. 22-33-106(3) C.R.S. 22-36-101 CROSS REFS.: JFAB – Admission of Non-Immigrant Foreign Exchange Students JFABD - Homeless Students JC - School Attendance Areas JHD – Denial of Admission and Exclusions from Attendance

Revised July 15, 2026
Revised June 15, 2017
Revised November 7, 2017
Revised January 7, 2021
Revised June 19, 2023

LEGAL REFS:
C.R.S. 22-32-109(1)
C.R.S. 22-33-106(3)
C.R.S. 22-36-101

CROSS REFS.:
JFAB – Admission of Non-Immigrant Foreign Exchange Students
JFABD - Homeless Students
JC - School Attendance Areas
JHD – Denial of Admission and Exclusions from Attendance