Help Center
Find answers to common questions and learn how to make the most of Charter Lottery.
Getting Started Guide
New to Charter Lottery? Start here.
Contact Support
Can't find an answer? Reach out to us.
Security & Privacy
Learn how we protect your data.
Compliance Info
State lottery regulations and FERPA.
For Parents
How do I apply to a charter school?
After creating an account, add your student's information, then browse available schools and submit an application during their open enrollment period. You'll receive confirmation by email.
What happens after I submit an application?
Your application will be reviewed by the school. Once verified, your student will be entered into the lottery. You'll be notified of results via email and can view them in your dashboard.
How is the lottery conducted?
Our lottery uses cryptographically secure random selection to ensure fairness. Priority categories (siblings, residents, etc.) are processed first, then remaining seats are filled randomly.
What if my child is waitlisted?
Waitlisted students are assigned a position number. If accepted students decline their seats, waitlisted students are offered seats in order. You'll be notified immediately if a seat becomes available.
How do I confirm or decline an offered seat?
Log into your account and go to Results. You'll see a deadline for responding. Click 'Confirm' to accept or 'Decline' to release the seat to the next student on the waitlist.
For School Administrators
How do I set up a lottery cycle?
Navigate to your school dashboard, click 'Cycles', then 'Create Cycle'. Set your enrollment dates, grade capacities, and priority rules. Save as draft until you're ready to open enrollment.
How do I verify applications?
Go to Applications, review each submission's documentation, and mark as Verified or Ineligible. Only verified applications are included in the lottery.
Can I run the lottery multiple times?
Yes. If needed, you can invalidate results (with a documented reason) and rerun the lottery. All runs are logged in the audit trail for compliance.
How do I export lottery results?
From the Results page, click 'Export'. You can download CSV files of results, waitlists, and seat tracking data for your records.
Account & Security
How do I reset my password?
Click 'Forgot Password' on the sign-in page and enter your email. We'll email you a verification code; enter it on the reset page with your new password. The code expires after a short time, so use it promptly.
How is my data protected?
We use AWS infrastructure with encryption at rest and in transit. Access is role-based and all actions are logged. We act as a "school official" under FERPA, processing student records only to run your lotteries, and we never sell your data.
Can I delete my account?
Yes. Parents can delete their own account under Settings > Your Data > Delete my account. If an application is still waiting for the lottery or has a seat offer awaiting your response, you will be asked to withdraw or respond first. Records your school is required to keep are de-identified instead of deleted. School staff accounts are removed by your organization's administrator.