Official Site of The State of New Jersey

1. Visit the Choice District Locator to find information on choice districts.
2. Review the Choice School Transportation Procedures. Transportation of choice students is not guaranteed.
3. Review the Student Application Timeline. 

The general process for a student to enroll in a choice district is:

1. Notify resident district of intent to participate in the choice program.
2. Apply to choice district.
3. Receive notification from choice district.
4. If accepted to the choice district, notify the choice district of intent to enroll.
5. Request transportation.

By law, a resident district must be informed if a student intends to apply to or participate in the choice program.

To notify the resident district:

1. Complete the Student Notification to Resident District of Intent to Participate form.
2. Submit the completed form to the resident district.
3. Obtain a signed receipt acknowledging that you submitted the form. Keep the receipt for your records.

A student may apply to:

• As many choice districts as they want
• A choice district outside of their of residence

To apply to a choice district:

1. Obtain the application from the choice district.
2. Complete and submit the application it to the choice district.
3. Keep a copy of the completed application for your records.

Each district's application is unique to its own choice program. The application should be available on the district's website. If you cannot find the application, contact the district.

Enrollment Categories

The information you provide on the application will determine your student's enrollment category. Student applicants fall into one of three categories:

• Tier 1
• Tier 2
• Special enrollment preference

Refer to the Choice Enrollment Categories page for additional information on the three enrollment categories.

Choice districts must first fill their available seats with Tier 1 students. If there are more Tier 1 applicants than choice seats available, the choice district must hold a lottery to randomly select students. Parents and legal guardians of Tier 2 students should contact their desired choice district to find out if it accepts Tier 2 applications.

Late Applications

Some districts may accept late applications until October 14 of the enrollment year. If you wish to apply after the deadline, contact the choice district to see if they accept late applications. Some students may be granted an exception to the late application policy. Those who may be granted an exception include:

• Homeless or displaced students
• Students with a Commissioner-granted waiver

Refer to the Waiver Process: Choice Application Deadline page for information on the waiver process.

The choice district must review all submitted applications. The choice district will then determine:

• Which applications will be accepted and not accepted
• If a lottery is necessary

The choice district will notify all applicants if they were conditionally accepted, not accepted, or added to the waiting list. 

Public Lottery

If there are more eligible applicants than seats available, the choice district must conduct a public lottery. The lottery will determine which students will be accepted as choice students for the following school year and which students will be placed on the waiting list.

Lottery Process

The lottery must follow the requirements of the Senator Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq).

The choice district must:

1. Inform the parent/guardian of each applicant when the lottery is occurring (date and time).
2. Assign a number to each student participating in the lottery.
3. Notify the parent or legal guardian of their student's lottery number.
4. Run the lottery.

After the lottery, the district must notify each applicant of their position on the accepted students list or waiting list. Refer to the Waiting List page for additional information on the waiting list.

Notice of Conditional Acceptance

If the number of Tier 1 applications is equal to or less than the seats available, the choice district must send a Notice of Conditional Acceptance to each eligible applicant. The choice district will also send this notice to all students who were accepted through the lottery process. The Notice of Conditional Acceptance should include a Notice of Intent to Enroll Form for the parent or legal guardian to complete.

Notice of Non-Acceptance

If an application is not accepted, the choice must send a Notice of Non-Acceptance (formerly referred to as Notice of Rejection) that includes a reason for the non-acceptance. You can appeal this decision by submitting an appeal to the New Jersey Commissioner of Education. Refer to FAQ #3. How to initiate an appeal to the Commissioner for information on submitting an appeal. Refer to the Reasons for Non-Acceptance of a Choice Applicant page (found in the Additional Information section on this page).

If your student has received a Notice of Conditional Acceptance and you decide to enroll the student in the choice district:

1. Complete the Notice of Intent to Enroll Form.
2. Submit the form to the choice district.

You can submit a Notice of Intent to Enroll Form to only one choice district.

If you decide not to enroll your student after submitting the Notice of Intent to Enroll form, inform the choice district as soon as possible. There may be students on the waiting list.

Registration

Choice districts may set a deadline for registration for new choice students. If a newly accepted choice student does not register by the publicized deadline, then the district can revoke acceptance and move to the next applicant on the waiting list. Once a choice student is enrolled in the choice district, they can remain enrolled until the terminal grade.

Transportation of choice students is not guaranteed.  By March, the choice district should ask you to submit the required information for transportation. The choice district will then submit the transportation request to the resident district. 

The transportation options are:

1. Resident district pays for transportation.
2. The parent or legal guardian receives aid instead of transportation (also referred to as "aid in lieu of transportation").
3. The parent or legal guardian pays some or all of the transportation cost.
4. The student is ineligible for transportation.

Notification of Transportation Options

By August 1, parents should receive notification of their transportation options from the resident district.