1. School choice: How it works
April 2019

2. 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

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Program highlights and timeline 01

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 02 School choice claim and special education increment forms
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School choice claim and special education increment forms 02

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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 to
Only 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

11. 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

12. 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

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14. 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 s:
If you still plan to participate, your school committee does NOT need to vote, but you still need to complete the form

15. 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

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

17. Thank you
THANK YOU