Enrolment

The WISE Charter School welcomes K-9 students located in Edmonton and surrounding areas  from diverse backgrounds who are committed to engaging in all dimensions of a Waldorf education, balancing academic, artistic and physical pursuits. Waldorf students are dedicated to personal growth, lifelong learning, social harmony, environmental stewardship, digital minimalism, and a sense of responsibility for our shared interconnectedness and collective humanity.

Admissions

Students who demonstrate a commitment to Waldorf Education and an alignment with the terms of the Charter, and whose parent(s)/guardian(s) have submitted a completed application, will be considered for enrollment. The Board believes every student with genuine interest in Waldorf Education should have the opportunity to attend a school with a holistic education delivered through a unique instructional approach. Accordingly, the school’s identification and admissions procedures shall be structured and administered to ensure that students accepted for enrollment are those who are most likely to benefit from WISE’s unique programming.

Admissions procedures shall comply with provincial legislation, align with the WISE Charter, be clearly communicated to parent(s)/guardian(s) of prospective students, and respect procedural fairness. 

The WISE Charter School adheres to the Alberta Human Rights Act and does not discriminate against race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status or sexual orientation. 

Procedures

Each year, the Principal makes a recommendation on the number of new student spaces available per grade, which is approved by the Superintendent. Adjustments are made on an annual basis to reflect current educational research and best practices.

Student enrollment is based on considerations that include resources and staffing, as well as space, in the context of the terms of the charter. Compliance with municipal zoning bylaws and all applicable municipal and provincial public health, fire, safety and building standards requirements are also considered. 

Enrollment is offered to students who meet the enrollment criteria and whose physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs can be accommodated within the resources available. Registration in subsequent years requires a continued commitment to Waldorf education and an alignment with the terms of the WISE Charter.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) of prospective students will be provided with information to make an informed decision as to whether the WISE Charter is a fit for their child and family. Under normal circumstances, parent(s)/guardian(s) of all applicants are required to participate in 

scheduled information sessions and/or read material presented on WISE’s website to obtain: 

• General information about charter schools;
• Specific information about the school’s charter and program; and
• Characteristics of students, based on research and professional experience, which demonstrate suitability for the school’s program.

At the time of application, parent(s)/guardian(s) are required to share all known requested information regarding the suitability of their children for the school’s program, including any pre-existing and/or diagnosed medical, social-emotional and/or educational needs. Failure to disclose all requested information may lead to disqualification.

Admission and Registration Procedures for Current Students (In-House Registration)

To identify all available openings, the WISE registration and admission process starts with in-house registration to see how many students are returning and whether they have siblings eligible for enrollment.

A system will be used to determine enrollment, with students being enrolled in the following priority order:

1. Existing WISE students: Registered students of the WISE Charter who declare their intention to re-enroll within the required timelines will be re-registered for the following school year. In the school’s first year of operations, priority status will be given to families registered at the WISE.
2. Siblings of current students and children of staff members will be given second priority for K-9 enrollment. Registration for these students will begin in the preceding school year.

Admission and Registration Procedures for External Applicants

Once the in-house registration of students of registered families and staff members is complete, K-9 admission and registration is open based on available spaces in the following priority order for external applicants:

1. New staff and alumni with children will be eligible for priority consideration for K-9 enrollment.
2. Siblings of accepted external applicants will be given priority for available spaces.
3. Students with a demonstrated previous commitment to Waldorf Education will be eligible for priority consideration for K-9 enrollment which includes applicants with a background in Waldorf education, such as attendance at other Waldorf schools, and Waldorf ECE programs 
4. WISE Community Boundary applicants for the K-9 program who live within the designated location will be given priority for available spaces.
5. All other external applicants from Edmonton and surrounding areas. 

Oversubscription 

In the event of oversubscription, students will be placed on a waitlist. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds capacity, offers of enrollment will be extended through:

• Waitlist: Waitlists will be reset annually for each grade based on the number of spots available per grade. If a waitlisted student is not accepted in a given year, parent(s)/guardian(s) must renew their intention to remain on the waitlist each following year through the registration process. Waitlisted students will be given priority order based on the admission criteria. Waitlisted students must accept their offer of enrollment within 48 hours. 
• Lottery System: When spaces become available, waitlist applicants of the same priority level will be entered into a lottery. A random selection will be conducted to determine who receives a space. Lottery students must accept their offer of enrollment within 48 hours.

Placement 

To ensure there are sufficient resources and facilities available to accommodate each student, placement assessments will be included as part of the enrollment process for all external applicants. Placement assessments will be developed internally by the Principal and facilitated by a faculty member. Shadow days may also be recommended, based on the discretion of the assessor, in order to determine an alignment with the terms of the Charter. 

Appeal Process 

Should a student not be offered enrollment, parent(s)/guardian(s) may appeal this decision to the Superintendent. Should the Superintendent deny enrollment, the parent(s)/guardian(s) may then appeal to the Board. Should the Board make a determination that the enrollment has been denied, the parent(s)/guardian(s) may appeal the Board’s decision to the Minister of Education where the Education Act or its successor and/or ministerial regulations provide for such appeal.