1. ACES OPEN CHOICE

2. Open Choice Contacts Tim Howes– Assistant Executive Director of Finance & Operations (203) 498-6838 Email: thowes@aces.org Lynn Bailey – Open Choice Coordinator (203) 498-6843 Email: lbailey@aces.org Melissa Alers– Family School Liaison (203) 498-6845 Email: malers@aces.org Fax : (203) 498-6891 www.aces.org

3. Open Choice Program ACES Open Choice was established through state legislation for suburban students to attend schools in New Haven and for New Haven students to attend schools in the suburbs. The goals of Open Choice are to reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation and to increase academic achievement. Families in the Greater New Haven area are given opportunities to enroll their children in schools with available openings in a variety of grade levels. ACES is one of three Regional Educational Service Centers that oversees this effort in Connecticut. ACES collects data on available seats in our area, manages the application and selection process, manages the transportation of those selected students, and works to support the students, families, teachers and administrators who participate in the program.

4. Open Choice Staff Roles Coordinator LYNN BAILEY Applications and enrollments Transportation After school activities (HS) Lottery Verifications / Information updates Family/School Liaison MELISSA ALERS Home visits School visits Attend PPT meetings Foster communication students / families / schools Track student success

5. Assistant Executive Director of Finance & Operations Tim Howes Administrator of Open Choice Program Financial management and disbursement of state Open Choice funds Open Choice Staff Roles

6. Open Choice Program

7. Open Choice Timeline

8. Open Choice Application Apply at: aceschoicelottery.org Open March 1, 2016

9. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1.How do you get your openings? 2.What’s the application process? 3.Do I have to reapply every year? 4.Can we apply to open choice, magnet, charter and private schools at the same time? 5.Does Open Choice have sibling preference? 6.What happens if my child is retained or doesn’t have enough credits? 7.What happens if we move to another city/town?

10. Open Choice Impact on Families Transportation-long bus rides Participation in school activities/meetings Student self esteem Racial and cultural diversity Student goals (college prep) ACES program support

11. OPEN CHOICE OUTCOMES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT STUDENT AND FAMILY SATISFACTION FRIENDSHIPS SPORTS/CLUBS OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES COLLEGE

12. Questions?