Previous Page |Next Page |Table of Contents LPS Policies Page

Non-Resident Students– Tuition

Eligibility for enrollment in the Lexington Public Schools is governed by Mass. General Laws, Chapter 76. Except as provided for in collective bargaining agreements, the School Choice Law, the METCO Plan, the McKinney Homeless Act or as provided below, the Lexington Public Schools will not admit students who do not actually reside in the town of Lexington.

Residence is defined as sleeping in the town of Lexington for at least four (4) nights per week.

1. Attendance as a private tuition student:

A nonresident student may be considered for admission to the Lexington Public Schools on a private tuition basis only if he/ she meets the following criteria:

• the student attended Lexington on a private tuition basis prior to June 30, 1991 or is the sibling (or step-sibling) of or foster child residing in the home of such a student.
  
  A student who meets this criteria may attend the Lexington Public Schools upon
  
  1. the approval of the Superintendent and the availability of space; and
  2. upon the payment of tuition set by the School Committee.

2. Attendance by arrangement with another school committee:

The Superintendent may make arrangements with a neighboring community for a Lexington pupil to attend school in that community or for a student from another community to attend school in Lexington in the following circumstances:

1. the student requires special education pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 71B (Chapter 766) and/ or related federal laws;
2. a student moves to or from Lexington after the beginning of the school year and requests permission to complete the year in his/ her former place of residence:
3. a student entering his/ her senior year of high school who moves to or from Lexington and requests permission to attend school in his/ her former place of residence during his/ her senior year; or
4. a student is admitted to Lexington pursuant to an agreement with the school committee of the community in which the student resides. (See M. G. L. C. 76 s. 12)
   
   Such arrangements are contingent upon the respective school committees reaching mutually agreeable terms for such attendance, the payment of tuition and upon the availability of space as determined by the Superintendent of Schools.

3. Children of town employees:

Students whose mother, father or legal guardian are employed by the Town of Lexington may, pursuant to the provisions of collective bargaining agreements which so provide, attend the Lexington Public Schools when the Superintendent has determined that space is available in the classrooms and programs which the student needs. Lexington will not be responsible for providing transportation to students who are enrolled pursuant to the provisions of collective bargaining agreements. In the event that a student requires special education services which are not available in Lexington, the community of the student’s residence will be responsible for the provision of said services.

4. Students who reside in Lexington for the sole purpose of attending the Lexington Public Schools:

Students who take up residence in Lexington for the sole purpose of attending the Lexington Public Schools will be charged tuition which shall be set by the school committee (M. G. L. c. 76 s. 6)

Students who are admitted with "student visas " will be charged tuition unless they are admitted pursuant to a "foreign exchange program, "e.g., American Field Service (AFS) or ASSE International Student Exchange Program, which as been approved by the school committee prior to the time or enrollment. (See "Guidelines for Admission of Exchange Students.")

Unless the student is enrolled pursuant to a "foreign exchange program" approved by the School Committee or agrees to pay tuition Lexington will not participate in the application process required for a student visa.

5. Tuition Rate:

The rate for tuition set pursuant to this policy shall be the average per pupil cost for regular and special education services for said period of attendance. The school committee may waive part or all tuition upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools. All tuition due in accordance with this policy must be paid in advance at the time of initial enrollment and on or before the first day of school of each subsequent school year. In the event that a student withdraws or is expelled from school prior to the end of the school year, the tuition paid will be refunded at the rate of 1/180 of the amount already paid for each school day remaining in the school year.

Legal References:

Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 76, s. 6
Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 76, s 12
Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 76, s 12A
Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 76, s 12B
Mass. Gen. Laws, c. 71, s 6A

Policy adopted by vote of the School Committee on: January 2,1996