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Applying

Applying to North Star

Minnesota North Star Academy is a public, state-funded, day charter school. There is no cost to attend the school. North Star intends to reflect the community to be served and be open to any resident in the metropolitan Twin Cities. North Star will accept up to 40 students entering grades 9 through 12 for each academic year.Ê Pre-enrollment procedures can begin at any time, preferably one month before the first semester (early September) and/or before the second semester (late January). Students will be accepted through the spring, summer, and fall or until the enrollment cap is reached.

Pre-Enrollment Procedures

Since North Star is a charter school serving primarily deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing high school students, there are certain procedures for a successful placement for the special education student at North Star. First, to inform North Star of your interest in the school, please print and complete the pre-enrollment form [PDF]. This form is to be mailed directly to North Star. Then, the next step is deciding on one approach to enrollment. There are two different approaches for enrollment: unilateral parent placement or placement through IEP process.

Parent Placement

The parent can make an unilateral decision to enroll the child but if the parent lives outside of St. Paul district, s/he will have to provide transportation for the child. Public transportation is an option for older students. The student can also drive him/herself or form a carpool.

IEP Process

  1. Share with your special education director and your child’s special education IEP team your interest in North Star and why you feel North Star can meet your child’s needs.
  2. Request a team meeting with your child’s educational team to discuss:
    1. Your child’s educational needs
    2. Placements that can meet those needs (schools/programs)
  3. Request that the team consider North Star as a placement
    1. If the IEP team agrees to placement at North Star:
      1. An interim IEP must be drafted and involve North Star staff as members of the team.
      2. A significant change form needs to be filled out to indicate change in placement.
      3. Transportation needs to be written into the IEP if the district agrees to placement.
    2. If the IEP team does not agree to placement at North Star:
      1. Parent(s) have a choice to contest placement decision by going to conciliation, or
      2. Parents can place their child at North Star unilaterally as a parent choice according to charter school law. In this case, parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from school. The local district no longer has any legal responsibility for students’ special education if the parent unilaterally enrolls the child at a charter school.

For further information, the education directors will be happy to provide assistance and guidance with this process. The education directors are also available for the IEP meeting upon request of the parents.

Waiting Lists

A waiting list will be created once the enrollment cap of 40 students is reached. Students on waiting lists will continue to receive North Star information. It is not unusual for a small percentage of enrolled students to select other options prior to the start of school. Openings created by opt-outs will be filled by those on waiting lists.

Do not become discouraged if your child is put on a waiting list. Openings can and do become available.

Application Procedures

  1. Please complete the entire student pre-enrollment form [PDF].
  2. Once your form is received, Minnesota North Star Academy will date and time-stamp the form, acknowledge receipt of the form, and schedule a time to meet the applicant and parents.

Mail the original form to:

Minnesota North Star Academy
1669 N. Arcade St.
St. Paul, MN 55106
  • Pre-enrollment Form [PDF]
  • Student/Parent Information Form [PDF]

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