Frequently Asked Questions - Palm Beach County School District

Choice Program Application:
The online Choice Program Application for the 2019-2020 is available November 1, 2018. The hard copy, paper application is available November 15, 2018.

Deadlines
Friday, December 7, 2018: The deadline to apply for all programs at Bak Middle School of the Arts (all programs), The Conservatory School @ North Palm Beach (Music-Band, Music-Orchestral Strings, & Music-Vocal for grades 6-8), Boynton Beach Arts programs (Dance, Digital Media, Music-Band, Music-Keyboard/Piano, Music-Vocal, Theatre, and Visual Arts), and A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts (all programs).

January 25, 2019*. Application deadline for all Choice programs other than the Arts programs listed above.

*The Choice application deadline date(s) may be subject to change as a result of conditions out of our control including, but not limited to: District/school closings, delay in school district daily operations, changes in school calendar, holidays, testing, etc. Updated deadline dates will be published.

Controlled Open Enrollment (COE):
The Controlled Open Enrollment application for the 2019-2020 school year will be available April 1, 2019.

Student Reassignment:
The online Reassignment application for the second semester of the 2018-2019 is now closed, with limited exceptions for last grade/senior requests due to a move outside of the zone for the final year at the school.

Email us at: choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org

Frequently Asked Questions

CHOICE PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS

Q. Will I be able to apply for more than one Choice program?
A. One application per student may be submitted. Each application will allow the selection of up to (2) two Choice programs. The selections may be limited, depending on the student's grade level, program and attendance zone.

Q. There is a new '95% rule' that allows my child to apply to a different school as the zoned school's program. How do I know what programs my child would be eligible for with this new 'rule?'

A. If your child is zoned to attend a school that is currently at 95% or above enrollment, he/she will have more program options to apply for. Your child will no longer be restricted to selecting your zoned schools program as a first choice IF your zoned school is at or above 95% as indicated on the October FTE report. Any available program options will be shown in your Choice program application drop down menu.

Q. Can I submit one application for both of my children?
A. No. Each child must have a separate application submitted.

Q. How long does it take to complete the online application process?
A. Applying for a Choice program online is quick and easy. The process should not take more than 15 minutes.

Q. I do not have access to a computer? How else can I apply?
A. You can apply online with your Smartphone or Tablet. Please contact your child’s current school or the Department of Choice and Career Options at 561-434-8755 for additional assistance.

Q. Is there another way of submitting an application other than online?
A. A hard copy of the application will be accepted, however, online applications are preferred and provide the parent with immediate responses, current application status and ability to manage their child’s account.

Q. Can I track the status or make changes to my child's application?
A. Yes. Tracking your child's status or making changes to your child's application during the application period is fast and simple. Just log on to your Parent Portal, then enter your e-mail address and password used to set your parent account. One change to your child's application after submission will be accepted until the published deadlines. Notification of your child's application status can be accessed by following the same process.

Q. Once I've submitted the application electronically, how will I know that the submission is successful?
A. Once the application is completed and submitted online, you will receive a confirmation sent to the email address attached to your parent account. Remember to check all spam and junk email folders to ensure delivery. If the email is found in either of these folders, be sure to mark it as 'not spam' or 'not junk.'

Q. Should I allow anyone else to use my account?
A. It is the user's responsibility to protect the integrity of any information entered in the system. This includes but is not limited to passwords or personal information about you or your child. Your account is linked only to your child(ren).

Q. My account has been disabled because I've attempted to login too many times. Should I set up another account?

A. No. You must wait one hour for the system to reset itself from your unsuccessful attempts. If you forgot your password, use the "Forgot my Password" feature. If you are still having difficulties, e-mail the Department of Choice and Career Options at: choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org for assistance.

Q. What is the deadline to apply for a Choice program?
A. Arts Programs: Friday, December 7, 2018: The deadline to apply for all programs at Bak Middle School of the Arts (all programs), The Conservatory School @ North Palm Beach (Music-Band, Music-Orchestral Strings, & Music-Vocal for grades 6-8), Boynton Beach Arts programs (Dance, Digital Media, Music-Band, Music-Keyboard/Piano, Music-Vocal, Theatre, and Visual Arts), and A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts (all programs).

January 25, 2019*. Application deadline for all Choice programs other than the Arts programs listed above.

Q. Can I change my first-choice selection even though my application has already been submitted?
A. If applying online, ONE PROGRAM SELECTION CHANGE will be allowed once the application is submitted. Applications for schools that require auditions such as Bak Middle School of the Arts, The Conservatory School @ North Palm Beach, A.W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts, and Boynton Beach High Arts programs, cannot be changed after December 7, 2018. All other choice selections can be changed one time until January 25, 2019.

Q. My family lives in another county and/or state but I am planning to move to the Palm Beach County School District. Am I still eligible to apply?

A. No. A student and his/her primary custodial parent must be residing in Palm Beach County prior to completing an application or auditioning for a Choice school or program in the PBCSD.
a. The address listed on the application must be the same as the address on file with the PBCSD Student Information System (SIS) at the time the application is submitted. If a current parent address is not consistent with the student’s address, the student’s address must be updated at the student’s current school. Addresses can only be updated by the data processor at the student’s current school. Once parents/legal guardians verify the address was updated, they must send an e-mail to the Department of Choice and Career Options at choicequestions@palmbeachschools.org to confirm the address was updated. Applications will not be processed if the address on the application and the address in SIS do not match by the application deadline date.

If students are unable to verify their address because they are awaiting placement in licensed foster care, experiencing homelessness or due to other extenuating circumstances they must indicate they have extenuating circumstances in their Choice program application. The Department of Choice and Career Options will review these applications and process them in accordance with the provisions of Board Policy 5.74 and 5.011. ii.

If the student does not have a SDPBC student number, proof of address document must be uploaded with the application. For a list of documents that may be accepted as proof of address, please refer to School Board Policy 5.011. The Department of Choice and Career Options reserves the right to ask for additional documentation in order to prove residency.

CHOICE PROGRAM SELECTION PROCESS
Q. Are students selected based on a first-come, first serve process?

A. All eligible applications submitted by the published deadlines deadline will be considered for the random lottery selection.

Q. When is the lottery conducted?

A. The random lottery selection will be conducted during the week of March 11-15, 2019 using software provided by an independent software developer.

Q. How are student choices selected in the lottery?

A. The lottery is programmed according to the Choice policies and procedures, including preferences. Any preference is considered only for first choice applications. See below for the lottery steps and options:

1. All first choice applications are automatically 'run' through a random selection process, filling all available seats. Those students who were NOT randomly selected through this process will be in the 'Wait Pool' for that program.

2. If the applicant also selected a second choice option, they will be considered for their second choice in the random lottery that happens next.

3. During the second choice lottery, the system runs all second choice applicants for each program and assigns them according to the number of available seats left after all first choice seats were considered in the initial lottery. If additional seats are available for a program that other applicants selected as a first choice, then second choice students will be randomly assigned to fill those seats.

4. Once the lottery is complete, students can be (1) Assigned to their first choice, (2) Assigned to their second choice or (3) In the wait pool for one or both of their programs (depending upon how many choices they originally selected)

Students who were assigned to their first choice selection have the option of accepting or declining the seat. If they decline the seat offered for their 1st choice, they must enroll at their zoned school. You cannot decline a first choice to remain in a wait pool for a second choice.

Students who were assigned to their second choice selection have the option of accepting or declining the seat. If they accept the seat, they are no longer in a wait pool for their first choice program. If they decline the seat, they will automatically be placed in the wait pool for their first choice program. You cannot accept a second choice and remain in the first choice wait pool.

Students cannot be assigned into more than one program at a time! Students can only be assigned to one program, or placed in the wait pool for both programs.

Students who were placed in the wait pool for both programs will remain in the wait pool and will be considered for a future random selection to fill any available seats that may become available.

Q. When will parents be notified if they are selected to participate in a program?

A. Students who applied online and are selected in the lottery will receive an email notification from the Choice and Career Options Department by March 29, 2019. Parents may also login to their Parent Dashboard to view the status of their child's application. Students who did not apply online will receive notification via US Mail after April 1, 2019.

Q. What if my child is not selected for the initial lottery process?

A. Students who were not selected in the lottery will receive an email notification of their “wait pool” status from the Department of Choice and Career Options by March 29, 2019. Parents may also login to their Parent Dashboard to view the status of their child's application.

Q. If my child is currently in a Choice program and applies to a different choice program at the same school, does he/she automatically get in?
A. No. All students who wish to participate in a Choice program must apply for that program and go through the lottery selection process.

Q. If my child is currently enrolled in a Choice program, do they need to reapply for the following school year?

A. Current Choice students do not need to reapply in order to remain in their present choice program/school. however, choice students in the 5th and 8th grades must apply for middle and high school choice programs.

Q. Can I submit my Choice application to a staff member at my child's current school for them to submit it on my behalf?

A. No. It is the parent/legal guardian's responsibility to guarantee that your child's application is submitted online or to the Department of Choice and Career Options by the published deadline dates.

POST LOTTERY PROCEDURES

Q. Will I automatically be registered at the Choice school if I am selected into the program through the random lottery selection?
A. No. You must register at the school following acceptance into the Choice program. Choice schools send acceptance letters to designated students, indicating a registration period and additional information to secure the seat assignment. All students must comply with the school's procedures and deadline dates to guarantee a spot in the program. Failure to return requested documents or to register at the Choice school will result in forfeiture of the assigned seat.

Q. Will transportation be provided to the Choice school?
A. Transportation is provided for selected Choice students who reside more than 2 miles from the school based on designated Palm Beach County transportation zone maps.