Governor Mikie Sherrill • Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell

Waiver Process: Choice Application Deadline

When extenuating circumstances occur, the New Jersey Commissioner of Education may grant a waiver of the student application deadline. The waiver allows a student to submit an application and be accepted to a choice program outside of the established timeline.

Waivers will only be granted by:

  • Showing "good cause", and
  • When a student's educational conditions are such that an immediate transfer is needed

Waivers will not be granted for convenience reasons such as missing the application deadline. Typically, student enrollment must occur immediately upon approval of the waiver. However, each waiver will be considered based on the specific circumstances of the student. 

Overview of Process

  1. Contact the choice district and get their commitment to accept the student.
  2. Obtain required documentation.
  3. Submit Waiver Request form and required documentation to the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). 
  4. If the waiver is approved, complete the student application for the choice district.

Step 1: Contact the Choice District

    Contact the choice district and ask:

    • Do you have an available choice seat?
    • Are you willing to accept the student without choice funding in the first school year of enrollment?

    No Available Seats

    If the choice district does not have any available seats, the student can still be accepted if they have a waiver. The waiver allows the choice district to exceed the maximum allowed enrollment. Additionally, the student with the waiver may bypass the waiting list if the choice district agrees.

    Funding

    If the waiver is approved by the NJDOE before the January enrollment submission deadline, then the choice district will receive choice funding for the student. If the waiver is approved after the January deadline, then the choice district will not receive funding for the student the upcoming school year.

    Step 2: Obtain Required Documentation

    If the choice district agrees to accept the student, the next step is to obtain the required documentation.

    The required documentation must demonstrate that:

    1. You informed the resident district of the intent to apply for a waiver to a choice district.
    2. The choice district has a seat available and agreed to accept your child even if they are not funded.
    3. Your child has a need to be enrolled in another district.

    1. Evidence That You Informed Resident District

    Documentation must show that you contacted your resident district and informed them of:

    • Your child's intent to apply for a waiver to a choice district
    • Why you are applying for a waiver (evidence of good cause)

    This evidence could be a copy of the letter or email sent to the resident district.

    2. Evidence That Choice District Will Accept Your Child

    Documentation must show that the choice district agrees to accept the student, without funding, for the current school year. The student will not be funded in the upcoming school year if the waiver request is submitted after the January enrollment submission deadline. This documentation could be an email from the choice district confirming they will accept your child.

    3. Evidence Your Child Has a Need to Be Enrolled in Another District

    Provide documentation supporting the need for your child to be enrolled in another district. If, for example, a request is driven by bullying of the student at their current school, the parent or guardian must include the results of the school’s investigation, as required in the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) law. The results should include:

    • Nature of the investigation
    • Whether evidence of harassment, intimidation or bullying was found
    • Whether discipline was imposed or services provided to address the bullying

    Step 3: Submit Waiver Request Form and Required Documentation

    Submit the Waiver Request Form and all documentation by email to pschoice@doe.nj.gov. A request for a waiver that does not include all the required documentation (listed in Step 2) will not be considered for approval.

    Step 4: Complete the Student Application for the Choice District

    If the waiver is granted, submit the choice district’s student application (provided by the choice district) with a copy of the approved waiver to the choice district. The choice district will inform the resident district of the student’s acceptance.

    Forms