Frequently Asked Questions CHOICE PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS 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. I do not have access to a computer? How else can I apply? Q. Is there another way of submitting an application other than online?
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? *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. Q. Can I change my first-choice selection even though my application has already been submitted?
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.
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 A. All eligible applications submitted by the published deadlines deadline will be considered for the random lottery selection. A. The random lottery selection will be conducted during March 2020 using software provided by an independent software developer.
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 April 3, 2020. 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 3, 2020.
A. Students who were not selected in the lottery will receive an email notification of their application or “wait pool” status from the Department of Choice and Career Options by April 3, 2020. Parents may also login to their Parent Dashboard to view the status of their child's application. 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. 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? |
|