School choice: How it works April 2019

Program highlights and timeline Table of contents 01 Program highlights and timeline 02 School choice claim and special education increment forms CONTENTS 03 School choice report and common questions

Section break 1 Program highlights and timeline 01

The regular education tuition rate is $5,000 per student School choice has been an option for students and families for over 27 years 32 districts in FY92, 189 districts (including virtual schools) in FY19 The regular education tuition rate is $5,000 per student Special education increments are added to the $5,000 rate There is no cap on special education charges State average special education increment based on current estimates is $5,557 School choice is a local program We are working on releasing an updated guidance document

School choice enrollment and tuition have grown steadily and is getting closer to the statewide 2% enrollment cap

There are a number of important milestones throughout the year Spring: School committee vote July-November: DOR-DLS tuitions based fiscal year projections December: DESE publishes choice tuitions based on October 1 SIMS, releases choice rosters, and DOR-DLS adjusts payments January-March: LEAs submit roster corrections April: LEAs submit school choice claim and special education increment forms May-June: DESE publishes final choice tuitions, DOR-DLS adjusts local aid payments Post June: DESE adjusts any FY19 errors during FY20, up until June 2020

02 School choice claim and special education increment forms Section break 2 School choice claim and special education increment forms 02

The school choice claim form allows districts to finalize their school choice enrollment for the entire year Add or remove students Update SIMs information, including special education placement codes Enter addresses Update start and end dates Enter special education increments and transportation amounts Enter multiple records as needed Both forms are due April 26, 2019

Its important that you check your data thoroughly before you submit it VERIFY that special education increments match the amounts entered on the special education increment form ONLY enter dates for individual students if they differ from the district's start or end dates (see the instructions) DO NOT include PO boxes or zip codes with street addresses USE the dropdown menu to enter the city or town of residence CHECK all addresses before submitting your file DO NOT leave blank rows in your data

Changes preferred by email to rodonnell@doe.mass.edu During the month of May we work to validate your data before we submit final numbers to DOR in June Changes preferred by email to rodonnell@doe.mass.edu Only email student’s initials and the last 4 digits of their SASID If you submit a new file, make it clear who the new students are (bottom of the file with comments at far right) Any issues that are not corrected before the end of the year can be handled as prior year adjustments in the next year

The special education increment forms allows districts to cost out services for school choice students Person completing the form should have CB training Form includes students who had special education increments in FY18 If there were no students reported last year, then a blank file is available Do not change the filename Add, remove, or update student information based on valid IEPs to cost out services Changes made to a student’s IEP during the year may require 2 placement records to cost out services Increment forms are subject to audit

Important changes that may affect claiming on the special education increment form Mobility Training: Name changed to Orientation and Mobility and moved from row 42 to row 26. OSD authorization required for unapproved programs and Individual Price Authorizations (IPAs) New online process for IPAs > $20/hour Out-of-state public programs: Any costs for additional services must be claimed as supplemental in-district Settlement agreements must lead to an IEP and if placed in unapproved program, OSD authorization is required

Section break 3 School choice report and common questions 03

School districts are required to accept school choice students unless they vote otherwise All districts must report their school choice participation plans by June 1, 2019 Starting in FY20, we are fully implementing an electronic reporting system, eliminating the need to submit letters or emails: http://bit.ly/2mOotdY If you still plan to participate, your school committee does NOT need to vote, but you still need to complete the form

Common questions Can sending districts see special education increment form? Yes, upon request Can siblings be given preference in lottery? Yes, if there are openings Can choice pupils be out-placed? Yes Can a resident student who moves out of town mid-year be converted to choice? Only if the district has open seats (no lottery) How is split custody handled? Adjust start/leave dates, add extra record if both towns are out of the district Can a student choice in to free FDK if their home district doesn’t offer it? Yes Who receives Chapter 70 aid for choice students? Sending district Can teachers’ non-resident children get preference in the lottery? No

Contacts School choice claim form Rob O’Donnell rodonnell@doe.mass.edu Special education increment form Elena DeMelin edemelin@doe.mass.edu Program questions Marnie Jain mjain@doe.mass.edu

Thank you THANK YOU