·  Each Specialty Program School will handle the application and parent notification processes. Staff at the central office will monitor the implementation of admissions criteria and maintain enrollment data for all Academies/Magnet Schools .

·  Students will have the opportunity to apply to any Specialty Program School within the school district. This open enrollment option will not restrict or deny students based on their current attendance zoned school.

·  An applicant applying to a Specialty Program School who has a sibling, who will continue to attend the same Specialty Program School the following school year, will have preference over other applicants. The sibling applicant must apply before the established deadline in order to receive this placement. A sibling shall be defined as a brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, child who the parent is the legal guardian of, and permanently living in the same household.

·  Specialty Schools with specific eligibility criteria (performance or academic) will continue to pre-qualify applicants at the schools. Applicants who pre-qualify must complete and submit an application prior to the established deadline.

·  The parent/guardian is responsible for returning all required criteria information to the contact person at the school where the applicant is applying. Applicants for Academies/Magnet Schools with specific admissions criteria must meet the eligibility requirements prior to acceptance.

·  All students interested in applying for a Specialty Program School must complete a written application and submit it directly to the school listed as the child's first choice for placement. Only one application will be processed per student. A second application automatically cancels the first application. A student may apply for a first and second choice placement.

·  The designated staff member who receives the application at the school site will review it for accuracy and completion.

·  Applications will be available at all Specialty Schools. The  Central Office will not accept applications. Applications The following are the procedures/guidelines for the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools Specialty Program School Programs: mailed to the school listed as the first choice must be postmarked by the established deadline. The application acceptance period will occur during the third nine weeks.

·  If a student withdraws from a Specialty Program school or is removed from a program, he/she must re-apply and meet the eligibility criteria (if applicable) to re-enter the Specialty Program during the next year's application/lottery process. Applicants who are not accepted into a Specialty Program School during the current school year will need to re-apply for the following school year.

·  Specialty Program School applications will be processed in order of preference, as listed by the parent/guardian on the application.