(a) Enrollment in a public charter school shall be open to all students who are residents of the District of Columbia and, if space is available, to nonresident students who meet the tuition requirement in subsection (e) of this section.
(b) A public charter school may not limit enrollment on the basis of a student’s race, color, religion, national origin, language spoken, intellectual or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, or status as a student with special needs. A public charter school may limit enrollment to specific grade levels.
(c) If there are more applications to enroll in a public charter school from students who are residents of the District of Columbia than there are spaces available, students shall be admitted using a random selection process; except, that a preference in admission may be given to an applicant who is a:
(1) Sibling or child of a student already attending or selected for admission to the public charter school in which the applicant is seeking enrollment;
(2) Child of a member of the public charter school’s founding board; provided, that enrollment of such children is limited to no more than 10% of the school’s total enrollment or to 20 students, whichever is less; and
(3) Child of a full-time employee of the public charter school who is a District resident; provided, that enrollment of such children is limited to no more than 10% of the school’s total enrollment.
(1) If there are more applications to enroll in a public charter school from students who are residents of the District of Columbia than there are spaces available, students shall be admitted in accordance with subsection (c) of this section; provided, that with the prior approval of the Public Charter School Board, a preference in admission may also be given to an applicant with an IEP or an applicant in a disability category pursuant to IDEA, in order to facilitate the planning, development, and maintenance of high quality special education programs in the District of Columbia.
(2) A public charter school seeking to establish a preference for admission under this subsection shall apply to the Public Charter School Board no later than July 1 of the year before the proposed effective date of the lottery preference.
(3) In reviewing an application by a public charter school to establish a preference for admission under this subsection, the Public Charter School Board shall ensure that the proposed preference will increase educational opportunities for, and not adversely impact, students with disabilities.
(4) In approving an application by a public charter school to establish a preference for admission under this subsection, the Public Charter School Board shall make publicly available a written document that specifies the preference established and the reasons for granting the preference.
(1) The Public Charter School Board ("PCSB") shall have the authority to approve a petition or application for a public charter school that gives a preference for admission to children of active duty members of the United States Armed Forces; provided, that PCSB may not permit more than one public charter school with such a preference to operate at the same time.
(2) A public charter school seeking to establish a preference for admission under this subsection shall:
(A) Request the preference for admission in a petition for approval filed pursuant to § 38-1802.01 , an application for renewal filed pursuant to § 38-1802.12 , or in a manner otherwise provided by PCSB; and
(B) Be located in the same ward as a United States military base.
(3) In reviewing an application submitted pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, PCSB shall consider whether granting the preference provided under this subsection is consistent with the mission, goals, and instructional methods of the petitioner or applicant and the need for the proposed school in the geographic area of the school site.
(4) A preference approved under this subsection shall apply to no more than half of the public charter school’s seats.
(5) This subsection shall not limit the ability of a school that establishes a preference for admission under this subsection to participate in a common lottery system established pursuant to § 38-194 .
(1) Beginning with School Year 2022-2023, a public charter school may give a preference for admission to students who are at-risk, with prior approval from the PCSB.
(2) A preference approved under this subsection shall remain in force for 5 school years and may be renewed an unlimited number of times, each time for a 5-year period, with prior approval from the PCSB.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, after an admissions preference for students who are at-risk has been in place at a public charter school for at least 2 school years, the public charter school may seek approval from the PCSB to discontinue the preference.
(4) Upon approving or denying the establishment, renewal, or discontinuation of an admissions preference for students who are at-risk, the PCSB shall make publicly available a written document that specifies the rationale for its decision.
(5) For the purposes of this subsection, the term "at-risk" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 38-2901(2A) .
(1) A District of Columbia public school that has been approved to be converted to a charter school under § 38-1802.01 shall give priority in enrollment to:
(A) Students enrolled in the school at the time the petition is granted;
(B) The siblings of students described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph; and
(C) Students who reside within the attendance boundaries, if any, in which the school is located.
(2) A private or independent school that has been approved to be converted to a charter school under § 38-1802.01 may give priority in enrollment to the persons described in paragraph (1)(A) and (1)(B) of this subsection for a period of 5 years, beginning on the date its petition is approved.
(e) Nonresident students shall pay tuition to attend a public charter school at the applicable rate established for District of Columbia public schools administered by the Board of Education for the type of program in which the student is enrolled.
(f) A student may withdraw from a public charter school at any time and, if otherwise eligible, enroll in a District of Columbia public school administered by the Board of Education.
(1) A public charter school shall comply with §§ 38-236.03 through 38-236.05 .
(2) The principal of a public charter school may expel or suspend a student from the school based on criteria set forth in the charter granted to the school, consistent with §§ 38-236.04 , 38-236.05 , and 38-273.03 .