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Maine charter public school today!

An open enrollment period is the designated window during which a charter school accepts applications from families seeking to enroll their children. Because charter schools are public schools that cannot use selective admissions criteria, open enrollment is the primary way they keep access fair and equitable.

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Key features include:

• Defined timeframe. Enrollment has a clear start and end date—often in winter or early spring for the following school year—announced in advance so all families have time to apply.

• Open to all eligible students. Any student meeting basic eligibility requirements, such as residency and grade level, may apply. Schools cannot screen applicants based on academic ability, disability, English proficiency, or similar factors.

• Equal treatment of applications. Applications submitted any time during the window are treated equally; it is not first-come, first-served.

• Lottery when needed. If applications exceed available seats, the school holds a random lottery and places unselected students on a waitlist in lottery order.

• Enrollment preferences. As permitted by law, schools may give priority to certain applicants, such as siblings of current students or children of staff.

• Notification. After the window closes or the lottery is held, families are notified of their child's status and given a deadline to confirm enrollment.