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Admission - Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply to attend Discovery Charter School?

Any child residing in the state of California can apply to Discovery Charter School.

Is there tuition?

No. Discovery Charter School is a public school in the state of California. However, we do ask our families to support the school by participating in our Annual Fund Drive.

Since Discovery is not part of the Moreland School District, Discovery does not receive any of the augmented funding a school within the District receives from local parcel tax revenues. At the same time, as a school with a full range of enrichments, planned small class sizes, and a strong program, Discovery spends more supporting their students.

In order to make our program possible, Discovery depends on its entire community to make donations each year. To help cover the funding gap, we currently ask each family to make a suggested donation of $1000 per student. That amount may change in following years due to declining support from the government. Our goal is 100% participation on the part of all our families. All donations to Discovery are tax deductable.

Does your school have Special Education?

Discovery Charter School has a resource program for identified special education students. We do not have Special Day Classes for severely handicapped students, and we do not have classes or programs for students on the Autism Spectrum. Since Discovery is essentially a single school "district", we do not have the depth of resources or the breadth of programs of a typical school district. While a developmental program can help children with special needs, it can be counter-productive for those with extreme needs. Our program is not highly structured, and there is no such thing as a "routine schedule" or day. We honestly feel that some children do better and are better served elsewhere.

Does submitting an application guarantee my child a spot at Discovery Charter School?

No. If there are too many applications for a specific grade level, then enrollment is determined by an Admission Lottery.

If I am a prior year applicant who is still on the waitlist what is the status of my application for next year?

Your status needs to be updated.You will need to re-apply by submitting another application and attending both the mandatory information meeting and open house again this year. The good news is that as a prior year wait-list individual you will move up in the lottery preference category.

When will the Admission Lottery occur?

If a lottery is necessary, it will be held within the required amount of time from the close of the Open Enrollment Period. Lottery date: April 4th at Discovery Charter School Rm. 2 at 2:00 p.m. Lottery attendance is optional. Results will be posted online within 24hrs.

What happens during the Open Enrollment Period?

Discovery sets the Open Enrollment dates yearly. The Open Enrollment Period for the 2012-13 School Year will begin January 30, 2012 and extend thru March 14, 2012. During this defined period all applications received are weighted equally. Should the number of students applying for any grade level exceed the expected capacity for that grade, an Admissions Lottery shall be conducted for the Open Enrollment Period applicants for the oversubscribed grades. There are preference categories that determine positions within the Lottery.

What are the Admission Lottery Preference Categories?

Enrollment preferences shall be given in the following order:
A. Siblings of currently enrolled students
B. Children of Discovery employees
C. Discovery Alumni families
D. Residents of Moreland School District students on prior year's wait list
E. All other residents of Moreland School District
F. All other students on prior year's wait list
G. All other California residents

If I find out about Discovery after the Enrollment Period (or after the Lottery) can I still submit an application?

Yes. Discovery still accepts enrollment applications. We encourage you to apply to our school. Applications submitted outside the Open Enrollment Period will be put on the waitlist in the order in which they are received.

If I enroll my child at Discovery Charter School, can I change my mind?

Yes, you can. Filling out and returning an enrollment form does not commit you to a decision. As at any public school, you are entitled to withdraw your child at any time.  You should be aware that once you withdraw or say "no" (to an offered space) Discovery policy is to automatically drop/withdraw you from the attendance or school waitlist and offer the spot to the next waiting family.

What do I need to do if my child resides out of the Moreland School District Boundaries?

There is no district-to-district transfer required (nor is a transfer required from a Moreland school to Discovery.) Simply fill out the Discovery Charter School Application and turn it in. Should your child be accepted, our office staff will notify your old school/district.

How can I get more information about Discovery?

During our Open Enrollment Period we hold several School Information meetings. We also highly recommend that you attend an Open House to see Discovery in action. Attendance at these meetings provides information concerning Discovery and our program so you can make an informed and educated choice for your family.

Do I need to attend an Informational Meeting?

Attendance at a School Information Meeting is required for an Application for Enrollment to be considered complete. Online sign ups for information meetings start on January 3rd, 2012. Please select the Information Meeting/Open House link to the left.
PLEASE NOTE: you may submit your child's application for enrollment at any time during the Open Enrollment period. You need NOT wait to attend the required meeting to submit the application. However, your child's application will not qualify for the Lottery if attendance at both the Information Meeting and the Open House is not verified. (For verification please don't forget to "sign in" when you arrive.)

Do I need to attend an Open House?

Attendance at an Open House is required for an Application for Enrollment to be considered complete. Online sign ups for open houses start on January 3rd, 2012. Please select the Information Meeting/Open House link to the left.

How do I get my other questions answered?

We would be happy to answer any other questions you may have. Just email us for more information.