ADMISSION/RECRUITMENT The Camden County Technical School District (CCTS) is dedicated to providing a rigorous academic and technical education to prepare Camden County secondary school pupils and post-secondary school pupils in the New Jersey CORE Curriculum Content areas, in a viable career program, and in a safe-secure-caring environment. No student shall be denied admission based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, place of residence in the county, social or economic condition, or disability. In fact, the Camden County Technical Schools' Board of Education encourages diversity in these areas. We shall alert the administration and staff of middle and high schools in the county of the programs and opportunities for pupils offered in the technical high school. Applications shall be accepted from September 1 st until March 1 st for consideration for the following school year. Applications received after March 1 st shall be reviewed based on availability in career programs and academic classes. All members of the professional staff shall be asked to assist with recruitment under the general leadership of the superintendent or his designee, and the Admissions Office. Consideration for admission shall be open to all interested eighth grade students who have completed the required courses of study at their elementary school district. The Admissions Office shall consider the criteria below to quantify the admissions process. To be considered for admission the board shall require and the Admissions Office shall review: A. Proof of identity and residence; B. Submission of completed and signed High School Admission Application and education credentials including final 7 th grade report card; current 8 th grade report card; attendance history; disciplinary records, and standardized test scores. No student shall be denied admission based solely on specific criteria nor shall a student be denied admission, automatically based on certain infractions. C. If applicant is classified, submission of Individualized Education Plan, Learning Assessment, Psychological Assessment, Social Assessment, and Eligibility document. Page 1 of 6
ADMISSION/RECRUITMENT (continued) D. Final acceptance shall be granted after proof of attainment/successful completion of eighth grade with passing grades in all core subjects. Once accepted at CCTS, the following documents must be provided: A copy of required immunizations and health records. No student will be be excluded based on medical conditions or needs. A copy of the applicant s birth certificate. A signed and completed Transportation/Bus form. A signed and completed Records Release form. A copy of custody/legal guardianship papers, if applicable. A copy of 504 Plan, if applicable. Once accepted at CCTS, students attending private school, out-of-county districts, or who are home-schooled, must register with their sending/home high school district. Students relocating from out-of-county into Camden County must also register with their sending/home district. The Admissions Office may require a recommendation by the applicant s middle school counselor, teacher(s), and/or principal if further clarification is needed. If an applicant scores below proficient on their standardized test scores for their grade level, or if they do not have standardized scores, they will be required to test at CCTS. Admission to specialized programs/academies may require attendance and participation at an information session and/or an audition or may require a certain level of academic achievement. Once a student is accepted, career program placement shall be determined based on availability and review of applicant s grades and test scores. Students entering tenth grade may also apply and may require an interview with the Admissions-Development Officer or Coordinator of Admissions and Student Services. Acceptance shall be based on academic achievement in 7 th, 8 th and 9 th grade; attendance records; disciplinary records; review of 8 th and 9 th grade standardized test scores, and attainment of successful completion of ninth grade with passing grades in Page 2 of 6
ADMISSION/RECRUITMENT (continued) all core subjects (Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies and Science). Once accepted, the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the student must notify their local/home public high school, and complete a transfer card and records release form. Students who wish to consider CCTS as a high school option may explore vocational technical programs that have openings, before making a program selection. Initial placement shall be made on the basis of the records, but adjustments may be made at the discretion of the administration when the state-mandated assessment indicates that such adjustments would be beneficial to the child. Parent(s)/legal guardian(s) shall be informed of this by the Guidance Office or Child Study Team. The Admissions Office shall review the above criteria to quantify the admissions process and shall be the final decision of admissions unless an appeal is made. The appeal process for admissions shall be by the parent(s)/legal guardian(s): A secondary review of records by the Admissions Team, the Director of Student Personnel Services and/or the Director of Special Education (a decision will be required within 10 working days); If admission is still denied, parent(s)/legal guardian(s) can appeal to the Superintendent of schools or designee to review records (a decision will be required within 5 working days). If admission is still denied, parent(s)/legal guardian(s) can appeal through the superintendent of schools to the board of education who will decide at their next regularly scheduled monthly meeting in closed session. Joint Custody When divorced parents/legal guardians have joint custody of (a) minor child(ren), admission shall be based on the present address of the parent/guardian with whom the child(ren) resides as of the date required by the administrative code. Affidavit Pupils When there is any doubt as to whether a child is entitled to free public education in the district schools, all procedures of law and code shall be followed. Page 3 of 6
ADMISSION/RECRUITMENT (continued) Homeless Pupils The district will determine the educational placement of homeless students in each child's best interest and respond to appeals concerning them made by parent(s)/legal guardian(s) or other parties in accordance with New Jersey statues and administrative code, as well as, pertinent federal law. A. Homeless children cannot be segregated in a separate school program based solely on their homelessness. B. Schools must immediately enroll homeless students, even if the students are unable to produce the records normally required of non-homeless students for enrollment. C. At the request of parent(s)/legal guardian(s), sending districts must ensure transportation for homeless students to and from the school they attended prior to becoming homeless. D. The Board of Education must designate a local liaison for homeless children and youths. Date: March 16, 1989 Revised: May 21, 2003 Revised: September 17, 2008 Revised: February 18, 2009 Revised: July 18, 2012 Legal References: N.J.S.A. 18A:7B-12 District of residence; determination N.J.S.A. 18A:7B-12.1 Homeless child; responsibility for education; determination of placement; payment of costs N.J.S.A. 18A:7C High School Graduation Standards N.J.S.A. 18A:36-19a Record requests for newly enrolled students N.J.S.A. 18A:36-25.1 Proof of child's identity required for enrollment; transfer of record between districts Page 4 of 6
ADMISSION/RECRUITMENT Legal References (continued) N.J.S.A. 18A:38-1 Attendance at school free of charge N.J.S.A. 18A:38-2 Free attendance at school by nonresidents placed in district under court order N.J.S.A. 18A:38-3 Attendance at school by nonresidents N.J.S.A. 18A:38-4 Free attendance to persons over age N.J.S.A. 18A:38-5 Admission of pupils under age N.J.S.A. 18A:38-5.1 No child to be excluded from school because of race, etc. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-6 Time of admission of pupils; first school year N.J.S.A. 18A:38-7.7 Legislative findings and declarations N.J.S.A. 18A:38-8 Duty to receive pupils from other districts N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 Attendance required of children between six and 16; exceptions N.J.S.A. 18A:40-20 Immunization at public expense N.J.S.A. 18A:44-1 Establishment of nursery schools or departments; eligibility for admission N.J.S.A. 18A:44-2 Establishment of kindergarten; eligibility for admission N.J.S.A. 26:1-9.1 Exemption of pupils from mandatory immunization N.J.S.A. 26:4-6 Prohibiting attendance of teachers or pupils N.J.A.C. 6A:12-3.1 Choice district application procedures N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.1 et seq. Special Education N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.2 Required health services N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.4 Required student health records N.J.A.C. 6A:17-1.1 Students at Risk of Not Receiving a Public Education Page 5 of 6
ADMISSION/RECRUITMENT Legal References (continued) N.J.A.C. 6A:22-1.1 et seq. Entitlement to Attend School Based on Domicile or Student Residency N.J.A.C. 6A:23-5.2, -5.3 Method of determining the district of residence N.J.A.C. 6A:32-8.2 School enrollment Tepper v. Board of Education of the Township Hackensack, Bergen County, 1971 S.L.D. 549 No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-110, 20 U.S.C.A. 6301 et seq. Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982) Plainfield Board of Education v. Cooperman, 105 NJ 587 (1987) J.A. v. Board of Education of South Orange/Maplewood, 318 N.J. Super. 512 (App. Div. 1999) "Pupil Residency": Who is Eligible for a Free Public Education," by Donna Kaye, Esq. in N.J. School Leader (July-August 2002). Cross References: 3240 Tuition Fees 5118 Nonresidents 5119 Transfers; Withdrawals 5120 Needs Assessment of Individual Pupils 5141 Health 5141.2 Illness 5141.3 Health Examinations and Immunizations 6142.5 Safety 6164.4 Child Study Team 6171.4 Special Education 6174 Summer School 6178 Early Childhood Education/Preschool Page 6 of 6