These procedures relate to the Enrolment of students policy.

If a student meets the conditions for full-time distance education enrolment, they are entitled to be hosted at the distance education school that is linked to their local school.

This enables distance education schools to:

• provide the support services required to meet the student’s educational and wellbeing needs
• undertake face-to-face field services.

Exceptions to these enrolment rules are made for the following students:

• preschool children will enrol with Dubbo School of Distance Education or School of the Air Broken Hill
• ACT residents will enrol with Finigan School of Distance Education
• all secondary students living in metropolitan Sydney who are travelling overseas or within Australia will enrol with Finigan School of Distance Education, (families in Sydney with students in both primary and secondary years, may elect to enrol all their children at Finigan School of Distance Education, a Kindergarten to Year 12 school)
• primary and secondary students with moderate to severe intellectual disability may be eligible to enrol with the Distance Education Support Unit.

For policy advice regarding enrolment procedures for specialist settings please refer to section 5 of the K-12 procedures.

All enrolments are subject to a periodic review. A distance education enrolment will only continue if the principal determines the student maintains eligibility. In all circumstances, the parent or carer is responsible for satisfying the compulsory attendance requirements of the Education Act 1990.

Applications must comply with the procedures for Enrolment in public preschools and include evidence that the student meets one of the following criteria:

• the distance between home and the nearest early childhood service is 48 kilometres or more
• the student does not have reasonable access to an appropriate early childhood service for at least 20 school days in a year because of adverse travel conditions such as impassable roads
• the distance between home and the transport pickup point is 3 kilometres or more and the nearest early childhood service is 16 kilometres from the transport pickup point, with a journey time that regularly exceeds 60 minutes each way to access that service.

Examples of evidence may include supporting documentation of the student’s circumstances, such as distance from the nearest early childhood service and distance from the student’s home to the nearest transport pickup point or school, or council road condition reports.

Make enquiries to the principal of the Dubbo or School of the Air Broken Hill distance education schools. Refer to Distance education for contact information.

Applications must comply with the procedures for Enrolment in K-12 and include evidence that the student meets one of the following conditions:

• the distance between home and the nearest government school is 48 kilometres or more
• a primary school student for whom the distance between home and transport pickup point is 3 kilometres or more and the nearest government primary school is 16 kilometres from the transport pickup point, with a journey time that regularly exceeds 60 minutes each way to access that school
• a secondary school student for whom the distance between home and the transport pickup point is 5 kilometres or more and the nearest government high school is 16 kilometres from the transport pickup point, with a journey time that regularly exceeds 90 minutes each way to access that school (primary school students continuing in distance education as they transition to a secondary setting, do not need to meet this condition)
• adverse travel conditions such as impassable roads prevent reasonable access to an appropriate government school for at least 20 school days in a school year.

Examples of evidence may include supporting documentation of the student’s circumstances, such as distance from the local school and distance from the student’s home to the nearest transport pickup point or school or council road conditions reports.

Make enquiries to the principal of the linked distance education school.

Refer to Distance education for contact information.

Students must be enrolled under this category before beginning to travel. Students will not be able to enrol under this category again for 2 years after returning to a school in NSW.

Applications must comply with the procedures for Enrolment in K-12 and include the following information:

• evidence of a permanent residential address for the linked distance education school
• a statutory declaration stating
  • the family’s intention to travel, with the anticipated duration of this travel not exceeding one school year
  • the student’s NSW home address before the travel and their expected home address after the travel
• a comprehensive travel itinerary showing addresses for at least 6 weeks in advance.

Travellers who take up residence in one place for 6 weeks or more will be expected to enrol at the local school and must still intend to return to a school in NSW within their original 200-day period. A decision to waive this requirement will be at the discretion of the principal of the distance education school.

If the beginning of travel is delayed by more than 30 school days, the student is no longer eligible to be enrolled in distance education and is required to attend their local school.

Parents or carers may apply to Rural and Distance Education (rde@det.nsw.edu.au) to extend their child/children’s enrolment in distance education. The principal of the distance education school will need to endorse the application.

Applications for an extension must be supported by evidence of extenuating and unexpected circumstances and will not be considered if solely for prolonging travel. Extensions will not exceed an additional 200 school days (one school year).

Make enquiries to the principal of the linked distance education school. Secondary students in the Sydney metropolitan area should contact Finigan School of Distance Education. Refer to Distance education for contact information.

This provision is not available during periods of international travel bans.

Students must be enrolled under this category before beginning to travel. Students will not be able to enrol under this category again for 2 years after returning to a school in NSW.

Applications must comply with the procedures for Enrolment in K-12, and include the following information:

• evidence of a permanent residential address for the linked distance education school
• a statutory declaration stating
  • the family’s intention to travel, with the anticipated duration of this travel not exceeding one school year
  • the student’s NSW home address before the travel and their expected home address after the travel
  • a comprehensive travel itinerary showing addresses for at least 6 weeks in advance
• If the beginning of travel is delayed by more than 30 school days, the student is no longer eligible to be enrolled in distance education and is required to attend their local school.

Parents or carers may apply to Rural and Distance Education (rde@det.nsw.ed.au) to extend their child/children’s enrolment in distance education. The principal of the distance education school will need to endorse the extension.

Applications for an extension must be supported by evidence of extenuating and unexpected circumstances and will not be considered if solely for prolonging travel. Extensions will not exceed an additional 200 school days (one school year).

Make enquiries to the principal of the linked distance education school. Secondary students in the Sydney metropolitan area should contact Finigan School of Distance Education. Refer to Distance education for contact information.

The enrolment period is for a minimum of 50 school days (one school term), and must not exceed 400 school days (two school years).

The principal of the distance education school should seek background information about a student’s medical condition from the student’s previous school and Team Around a School.

Applications must comply with the procedures for Enrolment in K-12 and include a letter from the student’s specialist with expertise in the medical condition, outlining the student’s condition and the treatment protocol that impacts on their ability to attend school.

The department may seek independent advice to confirm that distance education is, and continues to be, the most appropriate provision for the student.

Make enquiries to the principal of the linked distance education school. Refer to Distance education for contact information.

Enrolment is available for up to 200 school days (one school year) or extended to the completion of the next stage of learning after the development of a comprehensive case management plan.

Applications must comply with the procedures for Enrolment in K-12 and include a medical certificate confirming the pregnancy, or the child’s birth certificate.

Make enquiries to the principal of the linked distance education school. Refer to Distance education for contact information.

The local school should explore all options, including exemption from attendance at school, in consultation with Team Around a School before seeking enrolment.

Students who have been accepted or enrolled in a department selective high school or other identified department talent development programs within the last 12 months, are not eligible for this provision.

As this provision is targeted at elite participation, it is generally only available to students in Years 9 to 12.

Applicants must provide documented and certified evidence that the employment in entertainment or elite-level participation in arts or sports keeps them from attending their local school for more than 50 school days (one term) a year.

All evidence must be attached with the application and certified by a Justice of the Peace.

Applications must comply with the procedures for Enrolment in K-12, and include a statutory declaration from the parent or carer that provides:

• details of the employment obligations, copy of the employment contract or the participation that will prevent the student from attending a regular school, with a student résumé clearly outlining participation at an elite level
• the length of time for which it is expected that the student will need to access distance education
• an outline of arrangements for supervising student’s schoolwork and regular liaison between the student and staff at the distance education school.

Additional information

2.7.3 Elite level participation in sport – the evidence must be supported in writing annually by a representative of the highest Australian national governing body in connection with the student’s sporting commitment.

Attendance at a sporting or performing arts institution – when the student will be participating at an elite level at an institution, the organisation must provide evidence including:

• the organisation’s name and purposes
• how it meets requirements for child protection and other risk management procedures
• selection procedures
• the student’s program with an indication of when distance learning will be scheduled each day
• student accreditation procedures
• the criteria used to assess the student’s elite level of participation
• the ranking of the student within the organisation (where relevant).

In the case of dance, Sydney Distance Education High School can provide information on relevant dance accreditation considered in this category.

Principal endorsement – the principal of the student’s current school must review the associated evidence and provide a statement on the enrolment application. The statement must articulate:

• any program adjustments made to cater for the talented nature of the student
• that the student is operating at an elite level and the commitment is such that a regular school could not cater for this commitment through program adjustments including exemption from attendance at school.

Regular review – the distance education school must conduct a review of each student in this category at least every 12 months or when there is a significant change to student circumstances in consultation with Team Around a School.

Make enquiries to the principal of the linked distance education school. Refer to Distance education for contact information.

The local government school will initiate an application through the access request process. Team Around a School will provide support and advice on access to a range of support provisions and enrolment options for students with additional learning and support needs in consultation with the parent or carer.

A distance education enrolment may be recommended when ALL the following apply, and evidence is included as an attachment in the access request:

• the student has a disability confirmation
• the local school cannot meet the student’s educational needs with access to the available school, community, and state resources
• the distance education provision is the most appropriate enrolment
• documented evidence of intervention strategies implemented at the current school and assessment of the impact of these interventions
• Appendix A (refer to definitions) has been attached to the access request.

The distance education school must conduct a review of each student in this category at least every 12 months or when there is a significant change to student circumstances in consultation with Team Around a School

Make enquiries to the principal of the local government school.

The local government school will initiate an application through the access request process. Team Around a School will provide support and advice on access to a range of support provisions and enrolment options for students with significant support needs in consultation with the parent or carer.

A distance education enrolment may be recommended when ALL the following apply, and evidence is included as an attachment in the access request:

• the local school cannot meet the student's educational needs with access to the available school, community, and state resources
• the distance education provision is the most appropriate enrolment
• documented evidence of intervention strategies implemented at the current school and assessment of the impact of these interventions
• Appendix A (refer to definitions) has been attached to the access request.

While the student attends distance education, strong links will be maintained with the local school. The local school will arrange a transition review with the distance education school in consultation with Team Around a School at least 3 months before the end of the enrolment period.

Make enquiries to the principal of the local public school.

A statutory declaration may be required to attest to the facts of the extraordinary circumstances and/or the willingness to comply with the conditions of supervision and enrolment in this category.

The local school must contact Specialist Programs Team to discuss enrolments in this category.

The enrolment must be approved by the local Director, Educational Leadership, the Director, Delivery Support or the Director Educational Support and Rural Initiatives. This approval will indicate the enrolment duration, review dates and the specific conditions of the enrolment.

Enrolment at the distance education school proceeds after the distance education school receives the director’s signed letter outlining the conditions of enrolment.

During the enrolment, the Specialist Program Team will provide ongoing advice, guidance and support to Executive Directors, Directors, Team Around a School and the distance education school.

Make enquiries to the principal of the local public school.

Single subject provision will be considered only when the home school principal certifies that:

• a member of the teaching staff at the home school has been nominated to fulfill the supervisor’s role, including supervising coursework completion, formal examinations and assessment tasks within the distance education school’s specified schedule, and HSC examination timetable
• the student can work independently and is informed that they are required to engage with the distance education school as specified by the single subject teacher
• the student will be provided with resources where required, such as printing, textbooks, reference materials and access to technology that meet the department’s current specifications
• a suitable and safe work placement for any vocational education and training course is possible
• the school will provide the distance education school with relevant information on current learning adjustments, requirements for learning support provisions, and evidence for the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
• the local school will be responsible for paying the single subject course fees to the distance education school.

Timeline for HSC courses:

• Friday Term 3 Week 8 – Applications submitted to distance education school
• Friday Term 4 Week 2 – Applications finalised (Eastern division)
• Friday Term 4 Week 3 – Applications finalised (Western division)

Timeline for Stage 5 and Preliminary courses:

• Friday Term 4 Week 4 – Applications submitted to distance education school
• Friday Term 1 Week 3 – Applications finalised.

Table 2 Applications where the quota applies

School principals who seek distance education single subject provision for students in the following circumstances must provide a statement justifying the application.

Table 3 Applications where the quota does not apply

Table 4 Specialist settings and curriculum access provision

Table 5 Criteria for specialist support

• Distance education

• Disability Standards for Education 2005
• Education Act 1990
• Enrolment in K-12
• Enrolment in public preschools
• Enrolment of students
• Exemption from school procedures
• School attendance policy
• Voluntary school contribution policy

Rural and Distance Education Coordinator

rde@det.nsw.edu.au

02 6334 8070

The Executive Director Educational Standards monitors the implementation of this procedure, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.