high school selection overview of the legare hs advocacy process
TRANSCRIPT
High School Selection
Overview of the LeGare HS Advocacy Process
What is HS Selection?
All 8th grade students apply to up to 5 high schools by December 6.
English Language Learners (students in ESOL) apply for high schools through a special process called LeGare.
What are the High Schools?
High Schools cover grades 9-12
3 Types in the School District of Philadelphia:
Special Admission- 19 Schools with specific admissions criteria
Citywide- 8 Schools and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs with admissions criteria
Neighborhood- 23 Schools
What is LeGare?
The LeGare Consent Decree (1995) mandates:
All students, including English Language Learners and students with a disability, have equal opportunities to participate in high schools and high school programs.
Students may not be excluded on the of admission criteria if they can participate successfully, given reasonable accommodations.
The LeGare HS Advocacy Process
Is for Application to Special Admission, City Wide High Schools & CTE
Programs Only
LeGare does not cover applications to:• Neighborhood High Schools• Charter Schools • Non Public High Schools
Program Codes School Name Type
8040Arts Academy at Rush
804A *Arts Academy at Rush- Art SA
804D *Arts Academy at Rush- Dance SA
804M*Arts Academy at Rush- Instrumental Music SA
804R *Arts Academy at Rush- Theatre SA
804V *Arts Academy at Rush- Vocal Music SA
1010Bartram NS
101A *Commercial Advertising Art CW
101C *Cinematography Film/Video Production CW
101H *Health Related Technology CW
101W *Web Design CW
2670Constitution CW
School Based LeGare Team
School Based LeGare Team
Parent Special Education Point of Contact Teacher of Record Special Education Teacher ESOL Teacher Principal or Designee
What Does Advocacy Look Like?
The LeGare High School Advocacy Process
Every eighth grade student applies to High School
Students with an IEP, 504/Chapter 15 Service Agreement and English Language Learners (including students who exited in the past two years) submit a LeGare Advocacy folder because it: Gives the evaluators at the high schools more
information than simply the information on your child’s transcript. It allows them to consider the accommodations of students with disabilities and English Language Learners.
Advocacy Folder Contents
High School Application Easy IEP at a Glance or 504/Chapter 15
Service Agreement or ELL History Screen (S-21)
Copy of Student Data Transcript from 7th grade
Addendum Form that includes waivers Advocacy forms
Letters of recommendation Supporting documentation for the waivers Essay
Advocacy Waiver
The high schools require certain criteria to be accepted to the school, including grades, attendance, punctuality,
behavior, and PSSA scores. If your child does not meet one of the necessary
criteria, yet he or she would still be successful in the school with reasonable accommodations and services, you should request a waiver.
Discuss with your child’s school the reason the criteria should be waived, and if it is a valid reason, it will be placed on a form and put in the advocacy folder.
Documentation must accompany the waiver.
A school CANNOT waive everything!
Areas of Advocacy: Examples
Attendance: student was absent for 30 consecutive days because he/she was hospitalized
Punctuality: student is taking a new medication that causes nausea and vomiting. Student comes to school late rather than missing the entire day
Grades: student’s reading and/or math grades are not based on accommodations (i.e.: IEP Goals or Can Do Descriptors (ELL))
Behavior: Student was new to country and experienced cultural differences, behavior has now improved.
Standardized Test Scores: ELL student’s English language proficiency affected the PSSA reading score
Other: Student did not attend school in the US, so please see attached transcript.
Student Essay Students should write an essay to each of the
high schools they are applying to that explains: Who Am I? What do I Want to Get Out of My High
School Experience? What I Can Contribute to the School?
Schools that require essays Central (601) Bodine (515) Constitution (262) Palumbo (262) Carver Engineering &Science (403)
Letters of Recommendation
Encourage your child to ask for recommendations from 7th and 8th grade teachers, community and faith based leaders who: Know them Will write positively about the type of
person they are and their strengthsCan show why the student would be a
good fit for the specific school
Supplemental Information
Statement of Non-Participation
If you and your child decide ONLY to apply to a neighborhood high school, charter school, or non-district high school, you (the parent) must fill out the Statement of Non-Participation of the LeGare Process
Interviews & Auditions
Some schools require an interview and/or audition as part of their application process. Both parent & school based team should contact each high school to confirm or schedule an audition and/or interview. Please note: For Science Leadership Academy, the
parent MUST contact school to schedule interview
These schools require auditions and/or interviews: Constitution-interview Dobbins-interview Randolph-interview South Philadelphia- interview Fels- audition for arts program School of the Future- interview Mastbaum- interview Robeson- interview
Philadelphia Military Academy- interview
Swenson- interviews Rush- auditions CAPA – auditions FLC- auditions SLA - interviews GAMP- auditions Motivation- interviews
Parent Duties
Attend the High School Fair with your child Explore your high school options, including
district, magnet, charter, and private schools. When: Saturday, November 16, 9 am - 5 pm Where: Drexel University's Armory, 33rd and
Market Why: Learn about academic and special
programs, extracurriculars, admissions criteria, how to apply, and more
Parent Duties
Meet with the school team: for assistance with the HS application
process To ensure report card grades are aligned
with your child’s English Language Proficiency level
Discuss possible waivers of criteria
Request oral interpretation and written translation
Parent Duties (continued)
Select up to 5 High Schools and/or CTE programs
Fill out school application with school/program names and codes written clearly no later than December 6
Encourage your child to get letters of recommendations
Impartial Review Special Education or English Language Learners
are eligible for another review of their application if they have not been accepted to any of the high schools he/she applied to.
The application and advocacy packet will be reviewed by a new team of impartial evaluators at the district office. They will determine if your child will be successful at the high school.
Your child may be accepted into a high school if they qualify and there is space at the school.
This process happens in the spring, and you will be notified by mail of the impartial review decision.
Review of application process
Points of Contact
If you have any questions, contact your LeGare School Based Team.
For further help you may email: