Open Enrollment Update

A member of the community recently received some clarification from Dr. Morancie and the FCS operations team regarding open enrollment options. This information is important for both current Spalding Drive families and families outside the Spalding zone who may want to enroll their child at Spalding Drive but are concerned about the potential closure.

 

Please note, you may hear the open enrollment process referred to as “Change of School Assignment”. Please know that the terms are interchangeable.  

 

For Current Spalding Drive Parents:

 

If you are currently enrolled/zoned for Spalding Drive, do not select Spalding Drive as one of your top three choices in the open enrollment process. If Spalding remains open, your child will still be enrolled there without needing a transfer. If Spalding does close, your child will be redistricted to a neighboring school. You can, however, select other neighboring schools as your top choices if you wish to participate in open enrollment. If you do participate in open enrollment and Spalding remains open, because you are zoned for Spalding Drive, you can still choose to send your child to Spalding.

 

For Families Interested in Transferring to Spalding Drive:

 

Families zoned/enrolled in other schools who want their child to attend Spalding Drive can select Spalding as their top choice. This choice will not affect their #2 or zoned-for school selection if Spalding does end up closing. There’s no downside in selecting Spalding as your #1 choice for those who wish to do so.

 

Below are the exact questions and answers we received from Dr. Morancie for further clarification:

 

Questions and Answers Provided by FCS staff to Dr. Morancie regarding Open Enrollment / Change of School Assignment.

 

Q: Following your last virtual community meeting, have you received any clarification from the FCS operations team on how parents should make open enrollment selections?

 

A: The open enrollment process makes school transfers available to families who prefer for their student(s) to attend an FCS outside of their attendance zone. Parents may apply during the application window, December 9 – January 15. The list of eligible schools will be available on the website on December 9. Parents can rank their top three choices from the list of eligible schools. A parent with student(s) zoned/enrolled at Spalding Drive should not select Spalding Drive ES as one of their three school choices.

 

Q: Should we submit an open enrollment request based on the new redistricting maps (without Spalding), which have not yet been shared, or should we make a request based on the current district?

 

A: The Board’s approval of the closure/consolidation and redistricting plan will not occur until after the application window closes (January 15), therefore school selections should be made from the list of eligible schools that will be posted on the district’s website. Again, open enrollment applications for students currently zoned/enrolled at Spalding Drive ES should not select Spalding Drive ES as one of their three school choices. Their student is currently zoned/enrolled at Spalding Drive ES, so an open enrollment transfer request is not required.

 

If the Board decides not to close Spalding Drive ES, zoned/enrolled students may remain at Spalding Drive ES. If the Board decides to move forward with the school closure, students zoned for Spalding Drive ES will be redistricted to neighboring schools. However, if parents receive transfer approval (through the open enrollment lottery process), their student can enroll at the selected school. Parents would need to accept the transfer request.

 

For more details on the Change of School Assignment process, please visit https://www.fultonschools.org/all-departments/operations/operational-planning/student-assignment/cosa

 

Thank you all for staying engaged and supportive during this critical time. Let’s keep advocating for our school!