How to Apply to Charter School
Is my student eligible to apply to a charter school?
Yes! All school-age Pennsylvania residents are eligible to attend a charter school. Test scores, intellectual or athletic ability, special needs, or English proficiency will not impact your student’s eligibility.
Keep in mind that charters are allowed to limit enrollment to a specific grade level or area of focus, such as arts or sciences. Charters can also prioritize siblings of current students or “at-risk” students, like those living at higher levels of poverty or with limited English proficiency.
Can I apply to any charter school, or are there geographical limits?
It depends. All Pennsylvania residents are generally allowed to enroll in any charter school in the state. If there are more applications than seats, the charter school will go to a lottery system and may give preference to students who live within the district.
The exception to this rule is Renaissance Charter Schools. These are neighborhood schools and can enroll students only from the local area.
When and where do I apply?
If you live in Philadelphia, applyphillycharter.org offers one streamlined platform to apply to numerous schools. For the 2021-22 school year, the application opened on September 25, 2020, and closed on January 25, 2021. You can still apply after the deadline, but if there are no seats left, your child will be placed on a waiting list.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, you can call the charter school you are interested in or visit their website for an application. Each charter school may have a unique application and deadline. An exhaustive list of all charter schools in Pennsylvania can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website.
Be aware of the deadlines schools enforce for applications. If there are not enough seats for every child that applies, charter schools use a lottery system.
Can I apply to more than one charter school?
Absolutely. You can apply for all of the charter schools that your student is eligible for. If there are several charter schools in your area, applying to more than one may increase your student’s chance of getting an open seat.
If you’re in Philadelphia, applyphillycharter.org allows you to apply to several schools with one application.
What documents will I need?
During the application process, be prepared to present the following documents:
- Picture of parents’ photo identification
- Student’s school records such as academic reports and attendance records
- Student’s Individualized Education Program or other special-education records (if applicable)
- Proof of child’s age (like birth certificate or passport)
- Student’s immunization records and health/physical records
- Proof of residency (like credit card bill or driver’s license)
- Parents’ registration statement (sworn statement about whether student was suspended/expelled for offenses involving weapons, drugs, alcohol, or violence)
- Home language survey
Note that some of these documents will not impact your student’s official enrollment if not provided immediately. Be sure to clarify document deadlines with an admissions staff so that your student does not lose his or her seat because of a missed deadline.
Is there an application fee?
No! Charter schools are public schools. Parents have already paid the costs of charter school education through taxes and do not need to pay additional application or tuition fees.
How does my special needs child apply to a charter school?
If your student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the charter school must either adopt your child’s existing IEP or create a new one after your child is enrolled through the normal process.
If your student does not already have an IEP, you can seek a multidisciplinary evaluation at the charter school that will determine if your child is eligible for special education.
Students that are enrolled through the normal application process will be screened for learning disabilities throughout the year. If your child is identified through the screenings, you can then consent to an evaluation to determine if your student is eligible for special education.
For more information about a charter school’s special education programs or enrollment process, feel free to call the school. By law, all charter schools are required to provide a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities and cannot discriminate against these children in the application process.