New Military Family Information

Enrollment Process:  Ascend Leadership Academy is a public charter school and our open application period runs from January 1 - February 28. You can complete an application at our SchoolMint site. We host a public lottery in March and if your child is accepted you will be notified via email or text message. During the registration process, If you live out of state or do not have a permanent local address yet, please upload a copy of your PCS orders under the "Proof of Residency" section of the enrollment packet. You can also utilize the enrollment checklist provided below in the Resources section.

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Federal Impact Aid:  Federal Impact Aid is designed to assist local school districts or charters who have experienced increased expenditures due to the enrollment of federally connected children. Active duty military, contractors and civilian employees who work on federal property and those who live in federal housing are eligible to participate. Money received from Federal Impact Aid is used to offset costs on campuses with federally connected students. Eligibility for funding is determined each school year through the Federal Impact Aid Survey Form. You can access this form in the resources section below.  Impact Aid Surveys are completed annually and all federally connected students must submit a new form each year. Our annual Impact Aid Survey takes place each October and is conducted electronically.

NC Medical Documentation:  Any student who is attending a NC Public School for the first time must submit a N.C. Health Assessment Form. Students also need to provide proof of immunizations signed by a physician. You can have your current physician complete the Health Assessment and print your immunizations prior to arrival in N.C.  Required immunizations can be found here and the NC Health Assessment form is provided below in the resources section.

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New Student Orientation and Tours:  At ALA we offer campus tours throughout the enrollment process and a new student orientation for new students usually in Late-July or early August. Tours of the campus for our new military families are available by appointment.  Please contact Holly Cord at hcord@alaschoolsnc.org to make this appointment. 

 IEP and 504 Services:  If your child receives any type of specialized instruction through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan, we will need full documentation of your child's current plan. ALA provides services for students with both IEPs and 504s and will conduct a transition meeting for any newly enrolled students from out of state once they arrive on campus. 

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Military Excused Absences:  Ascend Leadership Academy honors absences related to military deployment as excused absences for students with specific circumstances.  ALA will accommodate active duty families to the best of our abilities as long as the total number of excused and unexcused absences does not exceed the maximum number allowed by NCDPI policy.  Additional situations that may warrant an excused absence for military students in good standing include but are not limited to: promotion ceremony, retirement ceremony, identification card (ID) renewal/initial issue, memorial services, and unit functions. To obtain an excused absence for military related circumstances please contact Holly Cord at hcord@alaschoolsnc.org

Interstate Compact:  The Interstate Compact for Educational Opportunity for Military Children addresses the challenges military children face when navigating frequent relocations and new schools. It allows for uniform treatment as military children transfer between school districts in member states. All 50 states have adopted the Compact through legislation and DODEA honors the Compact. While the Compact is not exhaustive in its coverage, it does address the key issues encountered by military families: eligibility, enrollment, placement and graduation. In addition, the Compact provides for a detailed governance structure at both the state and national levels with built-in enforcement and compliance mechanisms.  ALA complies with the interstate compact and its regulations.

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