Q. Is my student eligible to apply for Open Choice?
A. The program is open to children who, in 2012-2013 school year, will begin kindergarten (age 5 by December 31, 2012) through Grade 12. To be eligible to attend school in one of the suburban towns listed in this 2012-2013 RSCO Catalog your student must be a resident of Hartford. To be eligible to attend school in Hartford, your student must be a Connecticut resident. Children who reside outside of the RSCO Transportation Zone may apply, but will not receive transportation if accepted into – the program.

Q. How can my child apply to the Open Choice program?
A. To apply for the Open Choice program, you should submit an application to the RSCO by January 23, 2012.  If you applied last year and would like your child to be entered into the lottery for the 2012-2013 school year, you must reapply. If your child is currently in the Open Choice program and would like to be considered for another town, you must submit a new application.

When a seat is available, students with a sibling already in the Open Choice program who have applied on time are given preference for the town in which their sibling attends school. Every attempt is made to place siblings in the same town and, when appropriate based on the grade levels of the students applying, in the same school. Whenever possible, students are placed in towns located close to where they live.  

Q. Do I have to pay for my child to participate in the Open Choice program?
A. There are no fees for applying to, or participating in, the Open Choice program.
 
Q. Where can I get an application or assistance?
A. Applications are available online by clicking here. Applications and assistance are also available at the Open Choice Office, at 34 Sequassen Street, the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO), at 43 Vernon Street/Learning Corridor, Hartford, CT 06106 and RSCO satellite sites listed on the RSCO website. 

Q. Do I need to submit a separate application for the Open Choice program?
A. No.  You should use the same application when applying to Open Choice and Magnet Schools. If you submit more than one application, only the most recent application will be entered into the RSCO Lottery.

Q. If I am a Hartford resident, can I select the school district(s) my student(s) will attend?
A. No. As seats become available in specific towns and grades, students will be assigned to those seats.  Families are then notified of the placement location and given the opportunity to accept the invitation and proceed to the next step of the process, or to decline.

Q. If I am a suburban resident, can my student(s) apply to a Hartford public school?
A. Yes. You will be able to apply to a specific theme-based Hartford public school or schools. These schools are listed at the beginning of this section as well as in the application and on the RSCO website: www.choiceeducation.org.  Additional information about the schools’ themes can be obtained from the website.

Q: What happens if my application arrives after the deadline?
A: Applications received and/or postmarked after the deadline will go to a late application wait list based on date and time of receipt of application.

Q: Do I get to select the town in which I want my child to attend school?
A: No. As seats become available, students will be tentatively placed in that seat and then the family will be contacted and given the opportunity to accept or decline the invitation to proceed to the next step of the process.

Q: Do I need to visit the school to register?
A: Yes. After you successfully complete the intake process, you will receive information and directions for your assigned school. You will be asked to contact the school to schedule an appointment to complete the registration for your child.

Q: Do the children need to wear uniforms?
A: No.

Q: Who provides transportation?
A: Transportation is coordinated by CREC, the Capitol Region Education Council and is paid for by the State Department of Education. There is no cost to families that are within the RSCO Transportation Zone.

Q: What grade levels are available?
A: Students can participate in our program starting in kindergarten. However, the majority of the seats are between kindergarten and third grade.

Q: Can I drive my child to school instead of using the bus?
A: Parents can submit a written request to the CREC Transportation Department to drive their child to and/or from school.

Q: If my child is not placed, do I need to reapply?
A: Yes. Applications are only good for one year. The process starts all over again in the fall.

Q: While I’m on the waiting list, should I register my child for school in my district?
A: Yes. In some cases students are placed after school has begun and also in the middle of the school year. Your child should attend their district school until he/she is placed.