Board of Education Policy 5001: Elementary Schools and Attendance Zones

Neighborhood Elementary Schools

The Niskayuna Central School District shall maintain its elementary schools as neighborhood schools with attendance zones for each school, as defined in this policy. Changes in the boundaries of the attendance zones shall be by resolution of the Board of Education at the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools.

At the recommendation of the superintendent, the board shall by resolution establish flexible attendance zones to facilitate the management of class sizes and promote class size balance by grade level across the district.

Definitions

Regular attendance zone

A regular attendance zone is the geographic area of an elementary school to which students are assigned based on their residency within the zone, such zones being the attendance zones in existence prior to the adoption of this policy.

Dedicated attendance zone

In keeping with the concept of neighborhood schools, a dedicated attendance zone is the geographic area for an elementary school to which students are assigned based on their residency within the zone, such zones being the dedicated attendance zones established after the date of the adoption of this policy.

Flexible attendance zone

A flexible attendance zone (also referred to as a “flex zone”) is a geographic area situated along the boundaries of regular attendance zones, in which newly enrolled students may be assigned to one of two or more designated schools.

Regulations

The superintendent shall establish regulations under which procedures for assignment of students in dedicated attendance zones and in flexible attendance zones shall be implemented, monitored and adjusted as needed.

Such regulations may provide for a phase-in period, a voluntary transfer plan, and an enrollment management plan to be utilized in addition to, and in conjunction with, the flexible attendance zones for the assignment of newly enrolled students, in order to promote class size balance by grade level across the district and optimum use of the district’s staff and facilities.

Adopted: March 24, 2015