New Jersey Department of Education

Student Application Timeline for Choice Districts

Enrollment in the 2025-26 School Year

Document Name/Process

From

Received by

Deadline

Student Notifications to Resident Districts
of Intent to Participate

(Required for all choice applicants)

Parent/Guardian

Resident District

11/25/2024

Student Applications to Choice Districts

Parent/Guardian

Choice District

11/25/2024

NJDOE data collection:
District Application Data to Calculate FY2026 Choice Enrollment Maximum

Choice District

Department of

Education

11/26/2024

thru 12/4/2024

Resident District Confirmation of Student Enrollment

(Submitted to all resident districts)

Choice District

Resident District

11/26/2024

Resident District Confirmation of Student Enrollment

(Verification of enrollment by resident district)

Resident District

Choice District

12/6/2024

Lottery Date Notification

Choice District

Parent/Guardian

12/9/2024

Lottery

(If applicable; select date within deadline window)

Choice District

N/A

12/11/2024

thru 12/13/2024

Notice of Conditional Acceptance, Rejection, or Wait Listing

Choice District

Parent/Guardian

12/19/2024

Student's Notice of Intent to Enroll in the Choice District

Parent/Guardian

Choice District

1/9/2025

Student’s Notice of Intent to Enroll in the Choice District

(Choice districts send copy of each student’s Intent form to their resident district)

Choice District

Resident District

1/13/2025

NJDOE data collection: FY2026 Choice Enrollment Data Submission

Choice District

Department of

Education

1/13/2025
thru
1/20/2025

Transportation Requests

Choice District

Resident District

3/15/2025

Student Registration with Choice District

Parent/Guardian

Choice District

Determined by Choice District

 

Late applications: Districts may accept late applications after the November 25, 2024, deadline until October 14 of the enrollment year, however, no new applicants can be enrolled above the district's approved maximum enrollment, with the exception of students who receive a commissioner approved waiver of the application deadline. Late applicants can be considered for enrollment only after those who applied before the deadline.

If, after the NJDOE data submission deadline of Jan. 20, 2025, any accepted choice students decide to drop their acceptance, the district may replace them with students on the waitlist, including students who applied after the application deadline -- provided late applicants are considered after those who applied before the deadline.

After the FY2026 NJDOE enrollment data submission deadline, no additional choice seats can be added, with the following exception: Districts that accept a student with a NJDOE-approved waiver of the application deadlines may enroll the student at any time and may exceed the district's approved enrollment maximum. A student who is granted a waiver will be given priority over any waitlisted students.  Parents can request a waiver form by emailing the Choice Program Office.


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