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3141 - Nonresident Students Policy

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3141 - Nonresident Students Policy

Policy 3141

STUDENTS

Nonresident Students

Any student who resides outside the district may apply to attend a school in the district.  All applications for nonresident attendance will be considered on an equal basis.  The district shall provide information on interdistrict enrollment policies to nonresidents on request and have copies of the superintendent of public instruction’s annual information booklet on enrollment options in the state available for public inspection at each school building, the central office and local public libraries.

A parent(s) or guardian(s) shall apply for admission on behalf of his or her child by completing the appropriate district application.  The superintendent will accept or reject an application for nonresident admission based upon the district’s desegregation plan and the following standards:

  1. Whether space is available in the grade level or classes at the building in which the student desires to be enrolled.
  2. Whether appropriate educational programs or services are available to improve the student’s condition as stated in requesting release from his or her district of residence,
  3. Whether the student’s attendance in the district is likely to create a risk to the health or safety of other students or staff,
  4. Whether the student’s attendance in the district would result in the district experiencing a financial hardship,
  5. Whether the student’s disciplinary records indicate a history of violent or disruptive behavior or gang membership (a gang means a group of three or more persons with identifiable leadership that on an ongoing basis regularly conspires and acts in concert mainly for criminal purposes), and
  6. Whether the student has been expelled or suspended from a public school for more than ten consecutive days, in which case the student may apply for admission under the district’s policy for readmission of expelled students.

A student who resident in a district that does not operate a secondary program shall be permitted to enroll in secondary schools in this district in accordance with state law and regulation relating to the financial responsibility of the resident district.

A student who has dropped out of high school for six (6) 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 attend high school in the district regardless of residence.  Such a student will be admitted, provided that appropriate educational programs are available to accommodate the needs of the student.

The superintendent, in a timely manner, shall provide all applicants with written notification of the approval or denial of the application.  If the student is to be admitted, the superintendent shall notify the resident district and make necessary arrangements for the transfer of student records.

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

The final decision of the district to deny the admission of a nonresident student may be appealed to the superintendent of public instruction.


Cross References:    

Board Policy 3121        Enrollment and Attendance Records

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.225.225        Applications to attend nonresident district – Acceptance and  rejection – Notification
RCW    28A.225.240        Appeal from certain decisions to deny student’s request to attend nonresident district – Apportionment of credit
RCW    28A.225.290        Enrollment options information booklet
RCW    28A.225.300        Enrollment options information to parents

WAC    392-137-020        Nonresident students under the age of twenty-one – Mutual agreement between resident and nonresident districts required
WAC    392-137-040        District policies – Procedures and criteria for release of resident students and admission of nonresident students
WAC    392-137-055        Appeal notice

Adoption Date:      December 9, 1997