3140 - Release of Resident Students Policy

Policy 3140

Form 3140F - Interdistrict Transfer Form

STUDENTS

Release of Resident Students

A student who resides within the boundaries of the district shall be released to attend school in another district that agrees to accept the student if:

A.    A financial, educational, safety or health condition affecting the student would be reasonably improved as a result of the transfer;

B.    Attendance at the school in the nonresident district is more accessible to the parents(s) or guardian(s) place of work or to the location of child care; or

C.    There is some other special hardship or detrimental condition affecting the student or the student’s immediate family which would be alleviated as a result of the transfer.  Special hardship or detrimental condition includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1.    A student who becomes a resident of the district in mid-year may apply for a release to complete the current school year only in his or her former district of residence if transferring mid-year would create a special hardship or detrimental condition.

2.    A student who has dropped out of high school for six weeks or longer, or has returned from participation in a substance abuse treatment program, or is about to become or is a teen parent, or has returned from hospitalization due to a mental health problem may be released to attend any other high school in the state provided he or she is accepted by the nonresident high school.

In all cases that the district approves the release of a resident student, the student or the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be solely responsible for transportation, except that a student may ride on an established district bus route if the superintendent determines that the district would incur no additional cost.

A parent(s) or guardian(s) shall request the release of his or her child by completing the appropriate district form, including the basis for the request and the signature of the superintendent or his or her designee of the school district which the student will attend.

The superintendent shall grant or deny the request for release according to the above-stated criteria and promptly notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) in writing of his or her decision.

If the request is granted, the superintendent shall notify the nonresident district and make necessary arrangements for the transfer of student records.

If the request is denied, the superintendent shall notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the right to petition the board, upon five (5) school business days prior to notice, for review of the decision and to have a hearing before the board at its next regular meeting.  Following the hearing by the board, a final decision shall be promptly communicated to the parent(s) or guardian(s) in writing.

If the request for release is denied by the board, the written decision shall inform the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the right to appeal such decision to the superintendent of public instruction.

Resident parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be informed of interdistrict enrollment options annually.  The district shall make available for public inspection the superintendent of public instruction’s annual information booklet on enrollment options in the state at each school building, the central office and local public libraries.

Legal References:    
RCW    28A.175.090        Attendance at nonresident high schools
RCW    28A.225.220        Adults, children from other districts, Agreements for attending school – Tuition
RCW    28A.225.230        Appeal from certain decisions to deny  Student’s request to attend Nonresident district – Procedures
RCW    28A.225.290        Enrollment options information booklet
RCW    28A.225.300        Enrollment options information to parents

Adoption Date:      March 5, 1998