Manzanita Charter Middle School Charter Document

 

Element 8: Admissions

Admissions philosophy and policies include the following:

We will actively recruit a diverse student population from within the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) boundaries who value the school's mission and are committed to the school's program and philosophy.

Admissions criteria will be developed on a non-discriminatory basis.

The school will be open to all students of middle school age living in the state of California.

No student will be required to attend this school.  No tuition will be charged by the school.

Through recruitment, the racial and ethnic balance of the school will seek to be reflective of the general population of the community served.

Admission priorities will be given in the following order:

· To continuing students in good standing.

· To siblings of continuing students or of students who have graduated within the previous two years.  We include this priority for the sake of the continuity of the school community and the viability of the cooperative model.

· To applicants whose families are Level I participants (as defined below) by reason of their documented substantial donation of time and effort in organizing and/or sustaining the school.

· To applicants who reside within WCCUSD and whose families are Level II participants (as defined below).

· To students who reside within WCCUSD.

· To students who reside outside the WCCUSD.

In the event that, after applying the foregoing admission priorities, we have more applicants than spaces available, a public random drawing will take place within the priority category that has exceeded the spaces available.

A Level I Participant family is defined as a family that has contributed a minimum of 75 hours of work towards creating the charter and the school itself and /or sustaining the school between January 1999 and the application due date for the school year for which they are applying.  A minimum of 10 of these hours must be completed within the year prior to the application due date.

A Level II Participant family is defined as a family residing within WCCUSD that has contributed a minimum of 10 hours of work to the school within the six months prior to the application due date. 

The work contributed by families working toward Level I or Level II Participant status may include, but is not limited to, being on a committee, attending meetings, doing research, making phone calls, working on facilities, interviewing staff, classroom support, and performing administrative and other necessary tasks.  The work must be approved and supervised through one of the school service committees, with proper documentation maintained by the participant and submitted to an appointed record keeper.

Before submitting a school application, interested families will be required to participate in a single-day orientation workshop with school representatives to ensure an understanding of the Manzanita cooperative school program and the family's obligations to the school.  The parent(s)/guardian(s) of the applicant must evidence commitment to the goals and the philosophy of the school by completing the workshop and signing a Parent Participation Agreement. 

Students must evidence a willingness to participate, do homework, respect others, be honest, and work cooperatively by signing a Student Agreement.  Students with a documented history of  misconduct dangerous to others such that a recommendation of expulsion would be required under Education Code § 48915 will not be allowed to attend.  Admission of students who have been suspended or expelled from other schools, public or private, or who have a documented history of misconduct such that suspension or expulsion would be authorized under Education Code § 48900 et. seq., will be evaluated on an individual basis.  Admission of such students will be determined by decision of the Manzanita Board after consideration of the recommendations of the school’s admissions committee and/or Administrative Manager.