The School Inclusion Law: 10 Key Points
NO-COST
In 2016, more than 240,000 students, for whom their families had paid for education until 2015, will have access to elementary and secondary schooling at no-cost. Their parents and guardians may continue voluntary contributions toward extracurricular activities. Importantly, this contribution will not be a requirement on which to base school choice.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING
The Preferencial School Subsidy (Subvención Escolar Preferencial, SEP) was increased 20%. No-cost schools that receive SEP may receive an additional subsidy for preferential students (expanded SEP). All non-profit special education, adult education and general education establishments that meet SEP requirements will receive funding for being of no-cost to the student.
END OF SELECTION
Schools must gradually stop selecting students. In 2016, a new admissions process will go into effect for pre-kinder, kindergarten, first, seventh and ninth grades students attending school in the Magallanes region. In this region, students may apply to any school that receives state funds without arbitrary discrimination or providing economic, social or academic background information, and a selection test.
INCLUSIVE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
When the school chosen by the families has an equal number of applicants and openings, all applicants may automatically enroll. When there are not enough openings, the school must apply a random selection method that ensures the absence of arbitrary discrimination. Preference will be given to siblings of current students and the children of faculty and staff.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The law allows special institutions with educational mission statements and plans related to artistic expression, sports and rigorous academics. Once accredited by the Ministry of Education and the National Council on Education, such programs may implement a special admissions process by which up to 30% of their student population is selected.
EDUCATIONAL MISSION STATEMENT AND PLAN
Current educational mission statements and plans remain effective and improvement programs (PMEs) must be developed. Schools with new educational mission statements and plans are eligible for subsidies even when there are a sufficient number of schools in the area.
FAMILY COMMITMENT
When children apply, their parents must adhere to the school’s educational mission statement and plan. The admissions process seeks to ensure that family members attend the same school, reinforcing an ideal vital to the development of children and young people—school community.
NON-PROFIT
State funds may only be used for educational purposes and may not be withdrawn in the form of dividends from schools. No-cost schools may only use funds for educational purposes. By 2018, all schools that receive contributions or subsidies from the state must be organized as non-profit entities.
STUDENT PROTECTION
The law prohibits schools from canceling a student’s enrollment on the basis of academic performance. (Students may repeat one grade in elementary school and another in secondary school). Furthermore, students may not be expelled in the middle of a school year, except for serious offenses that endanger the school community.
STEP-BY-STEP CHANGES
Beginning this year, the new system will be gradually implemented in order to guarantee orderly transition toward the new structure of Chilean education.
Additional information → http://leyinclusion.mineduc.cl/