Skip to main content
Admission Policy

Admissions Policy

N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts is open to any school-aged resident of the State of California, and shall admit all pupils who wish to attend the Charter School. No test or assessment shall be administered to students prior to acceptance and enrollment into the Charter School. NASA shall adhere to all state and federal laws establishing the minimum and maximum age for public school attendance in charter schools. Admission, except in the case of a public random drawing, shall not be determined by the place of residence of the pupil or his or her parent or legal guardian within the state.

I Per revisions to EC 47605 (AB 1360) effective 1/1/18:

(n) A charter school may encourage parental involvement, but shall notify the parents and guardians of applicant pupils and currently enrolled pupils that parental involvement is not a requirement for acceptance to, or continued enrollment at, the charter school.

Parents are notified that volunteering is not a requirement through NASA’s Student-Parent Handbook, Coffee with the Principal and School written correspondence.

N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts will determine admission by a public random drawing, if the number of pupils who wish to attend the Charter School exceeds the school capacity. Lottery preferences are provided to as described below under “Lottery Preferences and Procedures.”

Admission Requirements

In order to be eligible for enrollment in the N.E.W. Academy Schools, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • All students must have been fully immunized and present the appropriate health examination record in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code.
  • If a student will turn five years of age after December 2 during the school year, that student may be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) admission.
  • All students shall reside in the State of California.
  • A charter school shall admit all pupils who wish to attend the charter school.
  • Per 47605, No pupil shall be involuntarily removed by the charter school for any reason unless the parent or guardian of the pupil has been provided written notice of intent to remove the pupil no less than five schooldays before the effective date of the action. The written notice shall be in the native language of the pupil or the pupil’s parent or guardian or, if the pupil is a foster child or youth or a homeless child or youth, the pupil’s educational rights holder, and shall inform him or her of the right to initiate the procedures specified in clause (ii) before the effective date of the action. If the pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder initiates the procedures specified in clause (ii), the pupil shall remain enrolled and shall not be removed until the charter school issues a final decision. For purposes of this clause, “involuntarily removed” includes dis-enrolled, dismissed, transferred, or terminated, …”

All eligible students must meet the following requirements:

A. Application of Interest

Complete and return the Enrollment Interest Form to the Charter School office by the last day of the open enrollment period to ensure enrollment in the Charter School, or, if the number of applicants exceeds the school capacity, to ensure a spot in the public random lottery.

B. Enrollment Packet

After a student has been admitted in N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts, students must complete the enrollment packet, which shall include, but is not limited to, the following materials:

  • Complete enrollment form.
  • Proof of minimum age requirements.
  • Proof of immunization.
  • PAR/exit paperwork from previous school.
  • Latest report card.
  • Indication of whether the student may require special education or related services (IEP or 504 Plan, if applicable).
  • Student’s home language survey and whether the student may be an English language learner.
  • Authorization for the School to request and receive student records from all schools the student has previously attended or is currently attending.
  • Proof of health examinations and oral examination required by the Health and Safety Code.
  • Proof of residence
  • Court paperwork, e.g. custody order (if applicable)
  • CAASPP Testing results from the previous year (if applicable)
  • GATE (advanced learning/ if applicable)
  • Green medical form (1st grade only)

Once these materials are completed and reviewed by school administration for completeness, the student will be enrolled in NASA.

Lottery Preferences and Procedures

Applications will be accepted during a publicly advertised open enrollment period which runs from December to February of each year for enrollment in the following school year. Following the open enrollment period each year, applications shall be counted to determine whether any grade level has received more applications than availability. In the event that happens, N.E.W. Academy of Science and Arts will hold a public random drawing (“PRD” or “lottery”) to determine admission to the Charter School for the following academic year, with the exception of existing students, who are guaranteed admission in the following school year.

Admission preferences in the case of a PRD shall be given to the following students in the following order:

  1. Residents of the District, as required by Education Code Section 47605(d)(2)(B);
  2. Siblings of students admitted to or currently attending the Charter School, to ensure siblings can attend the same school;
  3. Students residing at the New Economics for Women housing, to ensure educational access to our targeted student population;
  4. Children of staff members employed by N.E.W. Academy Schools, to ensure the recruitment and retention of well-qualified staff members (limited to 10% of total school enrollment);
  5. All other applicants