Family & Community Alternative Learning
Massachusetts Charter Schools

2003-2004 Charter School Pre-Enrollment

In accordance with M.G.L. c.71, §89, and 603 CMR 1.07(2), the purpose of this memorandum is to notify you of the number of students from your district who are expected to be enrolled in Commonwealth charter schools for the 2003-2004 school year.

I am providing you with two reports that provide information about projected charter school enrollment for the upcoming school year. The first report, Charter School Pre-Enrollment for the 2003-2004 School Year , provides by charter school the total pre-enrollment count, grade levels to be served, and number of students on the school's waiting list.

The second report, Charter School Pre-Enrollment for the 2003-2004 School Year, by Sending School District , identifies by sending district the number of students, by grade, that have pre-enrolled in charter schools and the number of students placed on charter school waiting lists.

According to state regulations, payments shall be made to charter schools "only for the total number of students from all districts" as reported on the charter school pre-enrollment report. As a result, while actual enrollment from your district may differ slightly, the total enrollment in a charter school from all districts, as listed on the attached report, represents a cap on the number of students for which the charter school may receive tuition payments.

The first quarterly payment to charter schools in FY04 will be based on the attached pre-enrollment report using a projected FY04 tuition rate for each sending district. The remaining three quarterly payments for FY04 will be based on actual charter school enrollment and the current FY04 charter school tuition rate, with corrections made for any over- or under-payment in the first quarter.

While the legislation stipulating a reimbursement to school districts (100% of the increase in payments to charter schools from FY03 to FY04, 60% of the tuition increase from FY02 to FY03, and 40% of the tuition increase from FY01 to FY02) remains on the books, it is important to note that this account was not funded in FY03 and the Governor has not recommended an allocation to that line item in his FY04 budget. The Governor has filed legislation, however, that includes a charter school reimbursement as a component of the Chapter 70 distribution to cities and towns. Further information about this proposal can be found on the Department's School Finance website.

If you have any questions regarding charter school enrollment, the charter school statute or regulations, or the funding formula, please call Rebecca Holmes in the Charter School Office at (781) 338-3228.