JFAB - Admission of Nonresident, Tuition, and Tuition-Free Students

Nonresident students may attend schools in the Kearsarge Regional School District providing there is space available at the time of the request and the Board has approved their attendance.  The Superintendent of Schools has the authority to assign Board approved nonresident, tuition and tuition-free students to the appropriate school grades K-12. 

The District’s ability to admit and maintain nonresident, tuition, and tuition-free students will be determined at the following transition points:  Grade 5 and Grade 8.  Refer to JFAB-R for the procedures relative to the admission and retention of non-resident, tuition and tuition-free students. 

Students must be in good academic and behavioral standing in order for the Board to approved admission.  Approval of a nonresident, tuition or tuition-free student may be revoked at any time by the Superintendent if the student fails to comply with the rules and regulations of the school district, or the laws of the State of New Hampshire.   

The Board has authorized the Superintendent to allow nonresident students to attend tuition free under the following conditions:* 

  1. Students from other countries (exchange students) who are guests of district residents under exchange programs that have been recognized for purposes of school attendance.
  2. Students whose families move out of district during their senior year.  Parents will be responsible for transporting the student to and from his/her assigned school.
  3. Students whose families move out of the district during the last half of the school year. Parents will be responsible for transporting the student to and from his/her assigned school. Students will be allowed to attend tuition free only for the remainder of the school year.
  4. Students whose families plan to move into the district during the first quarter of a school year.  Parents will need to demonstrate proof of residency to the school district within two weeks of inhabiting the residence.  Parents will be responsible for transporting the student to and from his/her assigned school.

*The above conditions do not apply to tuition students.

Children of Employees:

Non-resident students who are children of employees of the Kearsarge Regional School District may attend the District if space is available.  These students are not exempt from the requirement to have an agreement with their District of Residence, regarding payment of special education costs, prior to admission.  Non-resident employees should submit requests for admission to the Superintendent no later that May 15th of the preceding school year.  If there are more applicants than available spaces, students currently attending a particular school will have preference over a student who is not currently attending that particular school.  Otherwise, the determination will be made by lottery.  

The Superintendent shall notify employees whether or not their child(ren) can be accommodated by July 15th.  Successful applicants shall pay 25% of the tuition rate as calculated in the section below.  Employees who leave employment within the SAU or its District must withdraw their child(ren) unless the new district of residence agrees to pay the tuition rate as calculated in the section below, (pro-rated) and any other relevant criteria. 

Tuition for Non-Resident Students:

For the purpose of determining the tuition rate, the cost per pupil shall be set by the Board and be no less as that reported on the MS 25/DOE 25 will be used.  A signed tuition agreement, approved by the Superintendent, shall be on file in the SAU #65 office prior to attendance.  Tuition, where applicable, shall be pre-paid in quarterly installments or, if appropriate, through payroll deductions.  Tuition shall not be reimbursed if the student leaves the District, voluntarily or involuntarily, during the period for which payment has already been made.  Failure to pay tuition as due shall be grounds for revoking the admission of non-resident tuition students.  
 
Responsibility for Services not Included in the Calculation of the Tuition Rate:

NH State Law guides the District’s view of the responsibility for the provision of Special Education Services.  Section 186-C:13 states that “All expenses incurred by a school district in administering the law in relation to education for educationally disabled children shall be paid by the school district where the child resides.” This applies to all non-resident students regardless of whether they currently receive special education services or not.   

Except as nonresident, students are given special consideration for the reasons stated above, or unless enrolled through an agreement with another school district or agency, all nonresident students shall be charged at a per- pupil cost determined in accordance with state law.  This cost shall be determined and the tuition set by the Board on an annual basis. 

When a sending district is responsible for tuition, the Kearsarge Regional School District must be provided with written acknowledgement of the sending district’s obligation to the tuition prior to Board action.  The sending district will also assume and acknowledge the payment of any and all special education costs required by the student.  Parents will be responsible for the transporting nonresident, tuition, or tuition-free students to and from his/her assigned school. 
It is not possible to anticipate all situations that may arise.  Notwithstanding any provision of this policy, the Kearsarge Regional School District reserves the right to charge tuition or to deny admission to any non-resident student.  The Kearsarge Regional School District also reserves the right to admit non-resident students and waive tuition in situations not discussed in this policy. 

The Superintendent will provide the Board with a quarterly report on the status of nonresidential, tuition, and tuition-free students, which have been enrolled. 

Legal Reference(s):
NH Section 186-C:13

See Also:
District Procedure JFAB-R

First Reading: 10/20/05
Second Reading: Waived
Date Adopted:   10/20/05 
Revision Dates:  1/21/10; 9/4/14 
Last Review:  9/4/14, 6/1/23