RMAE | Enrollment

SUPPLY LISTS 2009-2010

GENERAL ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Application Deadlines

Applications for both First and Second Round Choice Enrollment Periods are available on our Web site (www.rmae.org) once Jefferson County Public Schools determines the dates. You may also obtain a copy from the school office. Generally, the First Round for Choice Enrollment Application Period begins the second week of January and ends approximately two weeks
later. Applications for the Second Round Choice Enrollment Period (wait list after lottery) will be accepted in mid-February and the process continues until the last day of August of that year.

Application Process

Applications during the first round shall be randomly prioritized by grade level within the categories listed below in step 1. Applications submitted during the second round application period shall be approved on a “first-come, first-served” basis, as specified in this policy. If space is not available, applicants shall be put on an annual prioritized wait list. The annual prioritized
wait list for a given school year begins after class spaces have been determined in the first round process, and will be maintained through the end of August of that same year. All wait lists are cleared on the last day of August, and class openings will not be publicized for the remainder of the school year. Parents may call the main office to see if any spaces have opened up through the end of the first semester.

Once students are admitted into the K-8 program, they shall be allowed to stay for all remaining grade levels served by Rocky Mountain Academy and are not required to reapply each year for admittance. If an applicant is not admitted for a given school year, the student must reapply under the RMAE choice enrollment process if admission is desired for the following year. It should be noted that at the middle school level (6th-8th grades) families will have option of returning to their designated home school without going through the choice enrollment process. In the event that any information is falsified or withheld in connection with the choice enrollment process, any approval for admission and continued enrollment may be immediately withdrawn.

Enrollment Criteria

Enrollment is open and tuition-free to any child meeting student eligibility requirements in step 2 and residing in the Jefferson County Public School District. Rocky Mountain Academy will meet all Federal laws, and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, color, age, creed, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry, or disability.

Age Requirements

Students are required to reach the following ages on or before October 1st of the applicable school year for entry in that school year:
Kindergarten Entry: Age 5 on or before October 1st
First Grade Entry: Age 6 on or before October 1st

Required Documents

Copies of the following must accompany the child’s application:
1. Birth certificate
2. Proof of residency requires both:
(a) a copy of a utility bill and
(b) a copy of driver’s license of parent/guardian

Parents who have questions are welcome to call the office and speak to the enrollment secretary - look for an update on the wait list policy and procedure in the near future.

ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFERS

Mid year transfers (after October 1st and through the end of the first semester) from other Jefferson County Schools will be handled in accordance with the second round application period procedures. Along with the student’s application, the student must also submit a Jefferson County administrative transfer form to RMAE and a copy to their current school. The principal of the current school must approve the outgoing transfer.

WAIT LIST IS PURGED ANNUALLY

On September 1st of each year, the current school year wait list will be purged.

ENROLLMENT FOR INCOMING KINDERGARTEN

Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen will not notify parents as to the First or Second Round Choice Enrollment periods, but parents can call the office or visit the website to get this information It is strongly advised that if you have an incoming child for Kindergarten through eighth grades, you should come in during the First Round Choice Enrollment Period in order to receive the best chance for a class placement for the following year. Children who are enrolled
at Rocky Mountain Academy Preschool are not given priority and must fill out enrollment forms in order to receive class placement at Rocky Mountain Academy for kindergarten.

WAIT LIST EXCEPTIONS

A family having a child or children in attendance at Rocky Mountain Academy may request the Board to make an exception to the waiting list policy to allow their child back into Rocky Mountain Academy after a one-year absence. Any such exception shall be made on a caseby- case basis by the Board. During the year’s absence, the parent must re-register their child/children or otherwise notify the school in writing of their intent to reenroll for the following school year. If the school has not received written notification from the parent by January 24th of the year the parents wish to reenroll their child, the opening will no longer be available.

GROUNDS FOR DENIAL OF ADMISSION

The following are grounds for denial of admission to students requesting choice enrollment:

1. There are no openings available.
2. RMAE does not offer appropriate programs or is not structured or equipped with the necessary facilities to meet special needs of the student, or does not offer the particular program requested.
3. The student does not meet the established eligibility criteria for participating in a particular program, including but not limited to age requirements, and required levels of performance.
4. The student has been expelled from any school district during the preceding 12 months, or has engaged in behavior in another school district during the preceding 12 months that is detrimental to the welfare or safety of other students or of school personnel.
5. The student has been expelled at any time, or is in the process of being expelled, as a habitually disruptive student or for a serious violation in a school building or in or on school property.

CHANGES IN RESIDENCE

A student who becomes a non-resident after enrollment or between school years shall be allowed to remain at RMAE.

PARENT VISIT DAYS

Parent visit days will be scheduled beginning in December of each year. Please refer to the calendar or contact the school office. Parents will visit the classroom(s) of their choice from 9:00-9:30am, and from 9:30-10:30am, you may visit with the Director.

PRESCHOOL ADMITTANCE TO THE MAIN SCHOOL

It is important to note that attendance at RMAE preschool does not automatically mean admittance to the main school. As preschool is not mandatory, the school district will not allow our preschool to directly feed into the main school. The same choice enrollment policies need to be followed as outlined above.

QUESTIONS?

The RMAE office staff will be happy to assist you in this process and answer any questions you may have. Office hours are from 7:45 am to 3:45 pm on school attendance days. Messages may be left at any time during the summer and someone will get back to you. Messages will be checked once or twice weekly through the summer.

Phone: (303) 670-1070
Fax: (303) 670-1253

Adopted: July 17, 2001, September 18, 2001, November 20, 2001, January 29, 2002.

Revised: November 25, 2003

References: Jefferson County School District Regulation JFBA-R (September 2, 2003) Jefferson County School District Policy JFBA (September 2, 2003)