A magnet school program should provide for an application and subsequent selection process that assures accessibility to all student populations. The student selection process of a magnet school is best accomplished through a pure lottery. The pure lottery provides integrity to the process. It has merit because it provides equal opportunity for selection of all applicants.

Eligibility

Any student who prefers the thematic approach to instruction offered by the magnet school program is eligible to apply. All students are eligible regardless of academic ability. The decision to apply to a magnet school program should be driven by the student's interest in pursuing essential skills through a specific theme or themes for learning.

Eligibility Guidelines:

1 (a) For the first year of the program only, admission to the new magnet program will be granted to students who were attending McNulty School or are newly enrolled Kindergarten students, as of April 27, 2005 or were on an open transfer from McNulty.

1 (b) Students with disabilities may remain/and may be placed at the McNulty magnet school based on their individual needs and the recommendation of the District Committee on Special Education.

2(a) Siblings of students referenced in number 1 (a) above, not in attendance as of April 27,2005 will be given priority to attend the McNulty Academy for International Studies and Literacy.

2(b) Siblings of those students with disabilities placed at McNulty, referenced in number 1(b) above, may only enter through the lottery process.

3. Incoming students (grades Pre-K through 5) who reside inside of the school district's attendance area, or are covered by the Amsterdam Teacher's Association collective bargaining agreement, are eligible to apply for the lottery.

4. Siblings of students who have been chosen via the lottery, who themselves have not been accepted, and who live in the same household will be given priority based on space available. Once a student is accepted into the magnet program, that student will remain in the magnet program throughout their elementary school career and need not re-apply each year. Students who desire to terminate enrollment at the magnet school and return to their home school will not be allowed to do so until they have completed one school year at the magnet school. Once a student attends a magnet school that school becomes his/her home school and a special transfer request would have to be made to return to his/her regularly assigned building.

Opting Out of McNulty Academy of International Studies and Literacy

Any student who was attending McNulty School at the end of the 2005 school year, or was on an open transfer from McNulty, and prefers not to attend the thematic approach to instruction offered at the new McNulty magnet school may apply for an open transfer. Elementary school assignment will be based upon available space at the time of the transfer request.

Wait Pool

First priority; A student whose application is received before the published deadline for applying to a magnet school and who is not selected in the original lottery, will be placed in a waiting pool along with other eligible students and will be subject to selection in subsequent lottery drawings on a space available basis. This wait pool will expire at the end of each school year.

Second Priority: A student whose application is received after the published deadline for applying to a magnet school will be placed in a wait pool and will be eligible for acceptance on a space available basis only after the first priority pool is exhausted.

Appeals

Appeals may be directed to the central administration, which will hear and subsequently rule on all such appeals. The ruling will be final.

Transportation

Transportation will be provided by the school district for all students, attending the magnet school, living more than a mile from the school. The district has developed a transportation system that ensures that all eligible students will be able to arrive at a magnet school and return home safely. No transportation will be provided for non-resident students.