Monday, November 16, 2009

Deadline approaches for new-student enrollment

Deadline approaches for new-student enrollment
Families must enroll by Dec. 14 to enter first magnet lottery

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13, 2009 - Everything is early this
year – the holiday decorations are on store sales racks, and families
interested in magnet programs need to plan the next school year.
Students must be enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools by Dec. 14
- just a month away – to be eligible for the first magnet lottery.
Many magnet schools have scheduled open houses over the next few
months. Click here to see the open house schedule.
"The open houses are meant to give families a feel for
the magnet programs," said Jeff Linker, director of magnet programs
for CMS. "In addition to the open houses, CMS will hold a district
magnet fair on January 9, as well as three mini-fairs later that month."
New-student enrollment is for children entering
kindergarten or older students who will be new to CMS. New families
enrolled by Dec. 14 will receive a personalized lottery instruction
sheet in the mail during the first week of January. Current CMS
students will bring instruction sheets home. The first magnet lottery
will run from Jan. 8 – Feb. 8, 2010. Families who plan to send their
child to the assigned home school do not have to register by Dec. 14,
but are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible.
Children must be five years old on or before Aug. 31,
2010, to be considered for kindergarten. Students must be four years
old on or before Aug. 31, 2010, to be considered for pre-kindergarten.
Families interested in the Montessori Pre-K programs must also
register by Dec. 14 to enter the first magnet lottery.
In order to enroll students in CMS, families are required
to provide three documents to show proof of residency. There are three
categories of acceptable documents and parents must submit one
document from each category. Category one includes a copy of a lease
and record of the most recent rent payment, or a record of the most
recent mortgage payment. Category two includes a utility bill dated
within the past 30 days, and category three includes a valid driver's
license, vehicle tax bill or payroll stub. Click here to see the
complete list of acceptable documents.
Parents must fill out a Safe Schools Enrollment
Declaration per North Carolina law, stating whether the student has
been suspended or expelled from any public or private school, or
convicted of a felony. Click here to read the Safe Schools Enrollment
document.
Parents must also provide an official birth certificate
(with seal) and a copy of the student's current immunization record.
New student-enrollment forms are available on the CMS Web site, at any
school, learning community office, or the Family Application Center
(700 Marsh Road). For more information, please call the Family
Application Center at 980-343-5335 or e-mail student.placement@cms.k12.nc.us
.