School Choice Vote 2024-2025 | Bedford Public Schools

The School Choice vote for the 2024-2025 school year was held at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The vote was 5-0-0 to not participate in School Choice.

To view the agenda and supporting materials for this meeting, please refer to Bedford Public Schools - Meeting Schedule & Supporting Documents.

Bedford Public Schools School Committee Policy:

File: JFBB - SCHOOL CHOICe

It is the policy of this school district to not admit non-resident students under the terms and conditions of the Interdistrict School Choice Law (M.G.L. 76:12B). This decision will be reaffirmed each school year prior to June 1st by a vote of the School Committee following a public hearing. In the event the Bedford Public School Committee votes to participate, the following local conditions would apply.

1. That by May 1 of every school year, the administration will determine the number of spaces in each school available to choice students.

2. That by June 1 of every school year, if consideration is being given to withdraw from the provisions of the choice law, a public meeting will be held to review this decision.

3. That resident students be given priority placement in any classes or programs within the district.

4. That the selection of non-resident students for admission when the number of requests exceeds the number of available spaces be in the form of a random drawing. There will be two drawings for this purpose. The first will take place during the last week of the current school year but no later than July 1st. The second will be conducted during the week immediately preceding the opening of the next school year and will be based on the possibility of unexpected additional openings.

5. Any student who is accepted for admission under the provisions of this policy is entitled to remain in the district until graduation from high school except if there is a lack of funding of the program.

6. The School Committee affirms its position that it shall not discriminate in the admission of any child on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, ancestry, athletic performance, physical handicap, special needs, academic performance or proficiency in the English language.

SOURCE: Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC)

LEGAL REFS.: M.G.L. 71:6; 71:6A; 76:6; 76:12; 76:12B

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) Regulations 603 CMR 26.00

Bedford Public Schools - Approved: June 15, 2004
Revised September 18, 2012