18A:36C-8 Enrollment to renaissance school.

8. a. (1) In the case of a renaissance school project built on land owned by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school district, students residing in the attendance area established by the renaissance school district for that property shall be automatically enrolled in the renaissance school project, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The parent or guardian of the student may determine not to enroll the student in the renaissance school project, and in that case the student shall be eligible for enrollment in another school in the renaissance school district. If spaces remain available in the renaissance school project, students shall be selected for the remaining spaces through a lottery system. The first lottery shall include students who reside in the renaissance school district but outside the attendance area of the renaissance school. If space remains available, a second lottery shall be conducted that may include students who reside outside of the renaissance school district.

(2) A renaissance school project built on land owned by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school district, shall allow any student who was enrolled in the renaissance school project in the immediately preceding school year to enroll in the renaissance school project in the appropriate grade unless the appropriate grade is not offered; and if a grade is at capacity, a student enrolled in the immediately preceding school year shall have priority for enrollment in that grade over a student who would otherwise be eligible for initial enrollment in the renaissance school project automatically based on the fact that he resides in the attendance area established by the renaissance school project for that property.

b. (1) In the case of a renaissance school project which is not built on land owned by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school district, preference for enrollment in the renaissance school project shall be given to students who reside in the attendance area identified in the application submitted by the nonprofit entity and approved by the commissioner for the renaissance school project. In no case may an attendance area include an area outside of the renaissance school district. If spaces remain available in the renaissance school project, then the renaissance school project may select students for the remaining spaces through a lottery system. The first lottery shall include students who reside in the renaissance school district but outside the attendance area identified in the application approved by the commissioner for the renaissance school project. If space remains available, a second lottery shall be conducted that may include students who reside outside of the renaissance school district.

(2) A renaissance school project which is not built on land owned by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority or the renaissance school district shall allow any student who was enrolled in the renaissance school project in the immediately preceding school year to enroll in the renaissance school project in the appropriate grade unless the appropriate grade is not offered.

In developing and executing its selection process, the nonprofit entity shall not discriminate on the basis of intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, status as a person with a disability, proficiency in the English language, or any other basis that would be illegal if used by a school district. A nonprofit entity may, however, limit admission to a particular grade level or levels consistent with its organizational document.

L.2011, c.176, s.8; amended 2013, c.149, s.4; 2017, c.131, s.29.