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MINOR POLICY ADDITIONS
5111P
STUDENTS
ADMISSION/PLACEMENT
Admission
District schools shall be open to all children five years of age and over who reach age
five on or before the first day of January of any school year. Each such child shall have,
and shall be so advised by the appropriate school authorities, an equal opportunity to
participate in the program and activities of the school system without discrimination on
account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or sexual orientation. The Board will
not act upon applications of individual students who are seeking admission and do not
meet the minimum age requirements as defined by state law. Students who are classified as
homeless under federal law and therefore do not have a fixed residence will be admitted
pursuant to federal law and policy 5118.1P Homeless Students.
The parent of person having control of a child five years of age shall have the option of
not sending the child to school until the child is six years of age. The parent or person
having control of a child six years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to
school until the child is seven years of age.
The parent of person shall exercise such option by personally appearing at the school
district office and signing an option form. The district shall provide the parent or person
with information on the educational opportunities available in the school system.
According to Connecticut General Statute 10-76d(b2), special education will be provided
for children who have attained the age of three and who have been identified as being in
need of special education, and whose educational potential will be irreparably diminished
without special education. If a special education student is being considered for an
exception, the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) will make a recommendation to the
administrator in charge of special education.
Each child entering the district schools for the first time must present an original birth
certificate or offer legal evidence of birth data, as well as proof of a recent physical examination
and required immunizations. School personnel may also request legal custodial
documentation. If the parents or guardians of any children are unable to pay for
such immunizations, the expense of such immunizations shall on the recommendation of
the Boards, be paid by the town. Proof of domicile may also be requested by the Building
Principal.
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Other documents that may be accepted as proof of a student’s age include, but are not
limited to:
1. Photocopy of a birth certificate
2. Earlier school records
3. State-issued identification document
4. Driver’s license, passport, etc.
5. Parent’s affidavit or unsworn statement as to a student’s age
6. Physician’s certificate verifying a student’s age
7. Immunization records
Any child entering or returning to the district from placement in a juvenile detention
school, the Connecticut Juvenile Training School, or any other residential placement,
shall have the education records of such child provided to the Superintendent of Schools
by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Judicial Department. Such
information will be shared with the Principal of the school to which the student is
assigned. The Principal can disclose them to the staff who teach or care for the child.
The District will immediately enroll any student who transfers from Unified District No. 1 or
Unified District No. 2. A student transferring from the Unified School Districts who had
previously attended school in the local school district shall be enrolled in the school such
student previously attended, provided such school has the appropriate grade level for the
student.
The parent or person having control of a child sixteen or seventeen years of age may consent to
a child’s withdrawal from school. The parent or person shall personally appear at the
school district office and sign a withdrawal form. The withdrawal form (Regulation
5111(dd)) shall include an attestation from a guidance counselor or school administrator of the
school that the school district has provided the parent or person with information
on the education options available in the school system and in the community.
If a child seventeen years of age or older voluntarily terminates enrollment in a school
district and subsequently seeks readmission, the local or regional board of education for
the school district may deny school accommodations to the child for up to ninety school
days from the date of such termination, unless the child seeks readmission to the school
district not later than ten school days after the termination in which case the board shall
provide school accommodations to the child not later than three schools days after the
child seeks readmission.
Children who apply for initial admission to the district’s schools by transfer from
nonpublic schools or from schools outside the district will be placed at the grade they
would have reached elsewhere pending observation and evaluation by classroom
teachers, guidance personnel, and the school Principal. After such observations and
evaluations have been completed, the Principal will determine the final grade placement
of the children.
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Children who have attained the age of nineteen or older may be placed in an alternative
school program or other suitable educational program if they cannot acquire a sufficient
number of credits for graduation by age twenty-one.
(cf. 0521 - Nondiscrimination)
(cf. 5112 - Ages of Attendance)
(cf. 5118.1 Homeless Students)
(cf. 5141 - Student Health Services)
(cf. 6171 - Special Education)
(cf. 6146 - Graduation Requirements)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-15 Towns to maintain schools
10-15c Discrimination in public schools prohibited. School attendance by
five-year olds, as amended by PA 97-247
10-76a - 10-76g re special education
10-184 Duties of parents (re mandatory schooling for children ages five to
sixteen, inclusive) as amended by PA 98-243, PA 00-157 and PA 09-6)
September Special Session) and PA 18-15
10-186 Duties of local and regional boards of education re school
attendance. Hearings. Appeals to state board. Establishment of hearing
board. Readmission, as amended.
10-220h Transfer of student records, as amended.
P.A. 11-15 An Act Concerning Juvenile Reentry and Education
Appeals to state board. Establishment of hearing board
10-233a - 10-233f Inclusive; re: suspend, expel, removal of pupils
10-233c Suspension of pupils
10-233d Expulsion of pupils
10-233k Notification of school officials of potentially dangerous students.
10-261 Definitions
State Board of Education Regulations
10-76a-1 General definitions (c) (d) (q) (t)
10-76d-7 Admission of student requiring special education (referral)
10-204a Required immunizations
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §11431 et seq.
Plyler vs. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
ADMISSION/PLACEMENT Page 3 of 4
10-15 Town to maintain schools
10-15c Discrimination in public schools prohibited. School attendance by
five-year olds, as amended by PA 97-247
10-76a – 10-76g re special education
10-184 Duties of parents (re mandatory schooling for children ages five to
sixteen, inclusive) – as amended by PA 98-243, PA 00-157, and PA 09-06
10-186 Duties of local and regional boards of education re school attendance.
Hearings. Amended by PA 96-26, An Act Concerning Graduation
Requirements and Placement of Older Students
Appeals to state board. Establishment of hearing board
10-233a Suspension of pupils
10-233d Expulsion of pupils
10-233k Notification of school officials of potentially dangerous students. (as
amended by PA 01-176)
10-261 Definitions
State Board of Education Regulations
10-76a-1 General definitions (c) (d) (q) (t)
10-76d-7 Admission of student requiring special education (referral)
10-204a required immunizations (as amended by PA 98-243)
Policy adopted: March 12, 2002
Policy revised: May 12, 2009
Policy revised: December 13, 2011
Policy revised: March 30, 2021
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
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