WISD Intradistrict Transfer Policy

INTRADISTRICT TRANSFERS

The student's parent must complete a student transfer request form. Transfers for currently enrolled students for the fall semester may be requested from January 1 to June 1. Transfer requests received from June 2 to August 1 will be held and considered only when staffing and actual enrollment indicate space and staff are available. Transfers for the spring semester may be requested from August 15 to December 15. Other than administrative transfers, requests to transfer during a semester will not be considered. A nonrefundable transfer application fee of $25 per student shall be collected at the time the application is filed. Fee waivers will be considered for children of District staff members, students who meet economic eligibility criteria, students who are victims of violent crimes committed on school property, or students attending a campus under the order of TEA to implement the school safety choice option. [See FDD]. The District does not provide transportation for transfer students unless the campus is implementing the school safety choice option.

Building capacity, current enrollment, growth projections, teacher allocation (addition or reduction), class sizes, boundary issues, and the student's behavior and attendance history are factors considered in making decisions regarding transfers. Special consideration shall be given to students who are victims of a violent criminal act committed on school property to give them the option to immediately transfer to another safe elementary or secondary school within the District with the space and staff available. Choice options shall be given to students scheduled to attend a campus under the order of TEA to implement the school safety choice option. Special consideration may also be given for other documented medical and safety reasons.

If transfers to a campus have been suspended and if the approval of an exception would not cause the need to hire additional staff, children of full-time employees may transfer to the campus where the parent is employed.

Transfers, once approved, are granted for all grade levels on the designated campus conditional on suspension of transfers. There is no guarantee that the student will be able to transfer to the next feeder school. Once a student attends a school on a transfer basis, the student may not return to the home school during the current school semester unless the principal revokes the transfer. The student may reapply to return to the home school to begin a new semester.

TRANSFER FACTORS

STUDENT MOVES

A student residing in school zone A on the first day of school, but moving to a residence in school zone B after the first day of school, may choose to attend school in either zone for the remainder of the current school year. If the student elects to stay in the school served by the previous residence, all transfer rules are in effect. Following the expiration of the school year, the student will attend the school in the new school zone for the following school year. No transportation will be provided to the school in zone A if the student chooses to remain at the school for the remainder of the school year. Effective the date of Board approval, students who move and wish to remain in their previous school must meet all criteria for transfer eligibility and will not be given preference.

The Superintendent may grant permission for a student to register in a school zone outside the student's attendance zone, on a temporary basis, when a family has a home under construction or is waiting to occupy a residence they have purchased or leased in the attendance area assigned to that school. Documentation that indicates the expected date of occupancy during the current school year must be presented to the office of student administrative services. If the family does not reside in the attendance area for that school within 60 days of the contracted occupancy date, or the contract to build, purchase or lease is terminated, the student shall be withdrawn until a residence is established within that attendance area.

SIBLING TRANSFERS

Effective the date of Board approval, sibling status will not guarantee transfer approval. Requests to transfer to attend a school outside his or her attendance area, with his or her sibling, will be evaluated as all other requests and will not be given preference. Siblings must meet all criteria for transfer eligibility. Special consideration shall be given to immediately transfer siblings of victims of violent criminal acts committed on school property when the sibling would otherwise be required to attend the campus on which the violent criminal act occurred.

TRANSFERS FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

Students receiving special education services, not subject to reassignment pursuant to a decision by an admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee shall satisfy the conditions under which transfers may be allowed pursuant to this policy. The individual educational plan (IEP) of a student receiving special education services who transfers under this policy will indicate that a transfer was approved, resulting in the student receiving services in a location other than the home campus.

ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFERS

An administrative transfer may be made, with parental consent, when in the judgment of the administration it is deemed necessary for the student's health and/or safety.

SUSPENSIONS AND APPEALS

SUSPENSION OF TRANSFERS

The parents and students accepting transfers shall agree to abide by the receiving school's standards for academic progress, attendance, discipline, and parental cooperation. The principal of the receiving school may revoke the transfer if these conditions are not met.

If the enrollment of a school, or expected enrollment in the near future, reaches 100 percent of the building capacity, the administration reserves the right to return transfer students to their home school.

The suspension of transfers to a school based upon capacity limitations shall be approved by the Superintendent. When the Superintendent decides to deny or suspend transfers to a school, the Superintendent shall immediately notify the Board in a public meeting.

APPEAL

Transfer decisions shall be made by the Superintendent. If the parent is not satisfied with the decision of the Superintendent, the parent may submit a petition for further review by the Board pursuant to Education Code 25.034. The decision of the Board is final, according to the provisions of Education Code 25.034.

DATE ISSUED:
LDU-

FDB(LOCAL)-X