JC-R: School Attendance Areas (Boundaries)

The provision of cross-boundary options attempts to respond to the specific program needs of individual students within the functional capacity of a school.  The following general guidelines provide assistance to school-based procedures for the acceptance of cross-boundary students. 

DEFINITIONS

Cross Boundary - refers to a request for a student to attend a Vancouver school other than the school in the attendance (catchment) area where the parent and/or legal guardian maintains his/her home and where the student ordinarily resides. 

District Alternative Program - refers to programs to which students who are at risk can apply to and be accepted.

District Special Program - refers to programs to which students with special needs can be referred to and placed in.

District Specified Program - refers to programs to which student with special interests and talents can apply to and be accepted.

Capacity (Physical Space) -  refers to a calculation that is based upon the number of classrooms (physical space) available for enrolling purposes and approved classroom enrolment sizes. 

International Student  - refers to a fee paying student studying in a Vancouver school with student authorizations approved by the Canadian government.  International students are not considered cross-boundary students or residents.

Program

• Regular K-12
• District Program includes District Specified, District Alternative Resource and District Special programs.

Residence - The student's residence shall refer to the legal address of the dwelling in which the  student ordinarily resides.

Resident in Priorities for Consideration of Acceptance for and Continuation of Cross-Boundary Students also refers to students registered as residents at the beginning of the school year and who move out of the school=s catchment area at some point before the end of the school year.  A youth currently in a Youth Agreement with the Ministry for Children and Families is deemed to be resident in a school district within which the mailing address specified for the youth in agreement is located.  (See Section 82 of the School Act).

Guardianship - Guardianship is a legal concept governed under the provisions of the Family Relations Act, and other legislation. Normally, the mother and father of child are deemed to be the legal guardians of the child. Transfer of guardianship will occur only under certain limited circumstances as a result of the operation of various legislative provisions, or as a result of a court order.  The Board requires formal documentary evidence (e.g. court order) from students or parents who assert that someone other than a child=s mother or father is the legal guardian of the child.

School Attendance Area - refers to the geographic region delineated by and contained within boundaries for each school, as approved by the Board.  A student is assigned attendance to a particular school (home school) according to the student=s residence.  School attendance areas have been established for elementary schools (including annexes) and secondary schools.  School attendance areas have also been established for elementary (including annexes) and secondary French Immersion schools.  A student seeking to attend a school other than their assigned home school should refer to the Cross Boundary Provisions of the Student Admission and School Choice Policy.      

GUIDELINES

• Students who move their place of residence outside of the catchment area of the school that they are currently attending may apply to remain and be accepted on a cross-boundary application.  In these cases, the administrator, in consultation with the student and his/her parents and/or guardians, will determine an appropriate date of transfer to their catchment area school up to the end of the current school year according to what is in the best educational interests of the student.  Students who move out of the school=s catchment area may apply for cross-boundary acceptance for the following school year.  (See #1, Priorities for Consideration of Acceptance for Cross Boundary Students in policy JC – School Attendance Areas.)
• Students who move outside their catchment area after March 1^st may submit a cross-boundary application form to that school at the time of their move.
• Any student who has been accepted as a cross-boundary student will have the opportunity to complete the program for that school year.  Continuation of cross-boundary status will be reviewed in subsequent years according to the priorities listed in the Student Admission and School Choice Policy.
• Students who have applied and been accepted to a District Specified or a District Alternative Resource program are not considered cross-boundary students.  Students who withdraw from a District Specified or a District Alternate Resource program may apply for cross-boundary acceptance to remain at that school.  In these cases, the administrator, in consultation with the student and his/her parents and/or guardians, will determine an appropriate date of transfer to their catchment area school up to the end of the current school year according to what is in the best educational interests of the student. (See #1, Priorities for Consideration of Acceptance for Cross-Boundary Students in policy JC – School Attendance Areas)
• Students who have been placed in a District Special program are not considered cross-boundary students.  Students who withdraw from a District Special program may apply for cross-boundary acceptance at that school.  In these cases, the administrator, in consultation with the student and his/her parents and/or guardians, will determine an appropriate date of transfer to their catchment area school up to the end of the current school year according to what is in the best educational interests of the student.
• Students who withdraw from a Mandarin Bi-lingual program or from a French Immersion program may apply for cross-boundary acceptance into the English K-12 program at that school.  In these cases, the administrator, in consultation with the student and his/her parents and/or guardians, will determine an appropriate date of transfer to their catchment area school up to the end of the current school year according to what is in the best educational interests of the student.  (See #1, Priorities for Consideration of Acceptance for Cross-Boundary Students in policy JC – School Attendance Areas)
• Students transferred into a school on an administrative transfer are not considered cross-boundary and are subject to the conditions of the administrative transfer.  (See Student Discipline Policy JG)
• Child care refers to on-site registered child care, off-site registered child care and non-registered child care providers within the attendance area of a school.  Suitable proof of child care will be required by the school administrator or designate.  (See #3, Priorities for Consideration of Acceptance for Cross-Boundary Students in policy JC – School Attendance Areas)
• All students applying cross-boundary must obtain a cross-boundary application form from their current school.
• Notification of the decision regarding cross-boundary application is provided by the administrator to the parent/guardian in writing through the return of their signed cross-boundary application form.
• Students who apply for cross-boundary acceptance must ensure that they are registered at their home school.  (See Student Admission and School Choice Policy JECC.)