3. Requests for Reassignment

With the exception of Choice Schools and/or Academy Programs, defined above in Section B.8, the Board believes that in almost all cases, a child should attend the school that serves his/her domicile defined herein as “Domiciled School”. A parent or guardian who is dissatisfied with a school assignment may request reassignment to a different school as provided below.  The Superintendent or designee shall have the authority to approve or deny requests for reassignment for satisfactory reasons as established by the Superintendent and communicated to students and parents and guardians.  A reassignment request denied by the Superintendent or designee may be appealed to the Board in accordance with subsection C.2, below.

1. Parents or guardians may request assignment to a school outside of their regular attendance area. Such request must be submitted in writing to the Student Assignment Office during the transfer window* and must state the specific reason for the request, pursuant to section C. 2. below. This process cannot be used for a Choice School/Academy request.  All Choice School/Academy enrollment must be made in accordance with Section B above.

*The Transfer Window is posted on the Rowan Salisbury Schools Website annually.

2. A parent/guardian may request a reassignment or transfer for a student to another school assignment area within the Rowan-Salisbury School System for one or more of the following non-inclusive reasons:
   1. Childcare Proximity
   2. Work Proximity
   3. Current RSS Employee
   4. Special Services
   5. Anticipated Relocation/Move
   6. Emergency Hardship
   7. Continual Enrollment

The Superintendent or designee shall consider and make a determination based upon:

1. The best interest of the child,
2. The orderly and efficient administration of the public schools,
3. The proper administration of the school to which assignment is requested and
4. The instruction, health, and safety of the pupils there enrolled.

A decision will be made and the parent notified via email. Approved student transfers may be effective through the end of the highest grade level of the receiving school (i.e. 5th, 8th or 12th grade) as long as the student adheres to conditions in subsection E of this policy. If a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the Student Assignment Office’s response/decision, the parent or guardian may appeal to the Superintendent or designee as outlined below.

3. Within (5) five days of receiving the notice that a request for transfer has been denied, the parent may request a hearing on the transfer request. The Superintendent or designee (Transfer Appeal Committee) will hear the appeal, consider all information, parent or guardian statements, and evidence to make a determination based upon the best interest of the child, the orderly and efficient administration of the public schools, the proper administration of the school to which reassignment is requested, and the instruction, health and safety of the pupils there enrolled.  The Superintendent or designee (Transfer Appeal Committee) will promptly render a decision, and notice of the decision will be given to the applicant by mail, telephone, telefax, e-mail or any other method reasonably designed to achieve notice.
4. Within (5) five days of receiving the notice of the disapproval, the parent may request a hearing on the transfer request. A hearing will be conducted by a panel of three Board members pursuant to Policy 2500, Hearings Before the Board. At the hearing the Board Panel will consider and make a determination based upon the best interest of the child, the orderly and efficient administration of the public schools, the proper administration of the school to which reassignment is requested, and the instruction, health and safety of the pupils there enrolled. The Board panel will render a decision within Twenty (20) school days and notice of the decision will be given to the applicant by mail, telephone, telefax, e-mail or any other method reasonably designed to achieve notice.

4. Transfer of Students During the School Year
   1. Change of Residence
      1. Change of Residence within the School System

Students whose legal residence changes from one school assignment area to another within Rowan Salisbury School system during the same school year may choose to finish out that school year in the same school or attend school in the area to which they have moved.  If they elect to remain in the first school in order to complete that year, they will be assigned to the school according to the area in which they live at the beginning of the next school year.  Students whose legal residence has changed but who choose to complete the school year at their first school will be responsible for their own transportation to school.

2. Change of Residence Outside the School System

Students whose domicile changes to another school system during the school year should be enrolled in school in the system to which they have moved, unless both Boards of Education consent to the student remaining enrolled in The Rowan-Salisbury School System. Consent will generally be given for a student to remain until the end of the grading period or semester provided the student meets the behavioral and academic standards set forth in Policy 4115 Behavior Standards for Transfer Students. If the student submits to the Superintendent or designee a written request to attend the Rowan-Salisbury School System and obtains a signed release approved by the Board of education of the school system where the parent and student are now domiciled, the Rowan-Salisbury School System Board of Education may accept and assign the student to a Rowan-Salisbury School System school.  Any such assignment is effective only for the current school year but upon written request of the student may be renewed annually at the discretion of both Boards of education. Students approved under this provision shall be responsible for providing on time transportation to and from school. Tuition will be charged to these students, consistent with legal requirements and Policy 4135.

3. Unsafe School Choice Transfer under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act     

Transfers for students who are victims of violent criminal offenses at school or for students attending persistently dangerous schools as defined by State Board of Education policy will be made pursuant to policy 4152, Unsafe School Choice Transfer.

4. Transfer of Homeless Students

Students who become homeless between academic years or during an academic year may request to remain at the school of origin for the duration of their homelessness or may request to be enrolled in any public school that other students living in the same attendance area are eligible to attend.  Any decision about the transfer or reassignment of a homeless student will be consistent with legal requirements and based on the student’s best interest.  (See policy 4125, Homeless Students.)

5. Transfer of Students in Foster Care

Students who are assigned to foster care between academic years or during an academic year will remain in their school of origin unless remaining in the school of origin is not in the best interest of the student.  The best interest of the student will be decided based on all relevant factors, including consideration of the appropriateness of the educational setting and proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement in foster care

2. Other Transfers

The Superintendent or designee shall consider student requests for transfer to another school during the school year based upon space availability, the needs of the child, the effect on the school to which transfer is requested, principal recommendations and other criteria established by the Superintendent or designee.

5. Conditions for Reassignment or Transfer

The following conditions apply in regard to any reassignments or transfers made in accordance with sections B, C and D of this policy.

1. The parent is responsible for transportation (except for homeless student transfers, for which the system will provide transportation in a manner consistent with legal requirements and policy 4125).

If a bus is routed by a house outside the school district lines and the student has an approved transfer, if the student requests transportation it will be approved.  However, if the bus route changes the student will be responsible for their own transportation.

2. The transfer or reassignment is valid for the grade span except for (a) unsafe school choice transfers, for which the length of reassignment will be consistent with legal requirements and policy 4152; (b) homeless student transfers for which the length of reassignment will be consistent with legal requirements and policy 4125; and (c) transfers or reassignment of students in foster care, for which the length of assignment will be consistent with legal requirements).
3. Any transfer request that is approved based upon false or misleading information will be declared void, and the transfer will be rescinded.
4. Any transfer is also based on the following stipulations:
   1. Students must comply with the attendance policy
   2. Students should demonstrate exemplary conduct
   3. Students should maintain academic average to proceed to the next grade level
   4. Students must immediately enroll in and continue enrollment in requested academy courses
   5. Students must demonstrate that he or she was in good standing in the previous school attended by that student, in terms of academics, discipline, and other measures of standing and progress in the school system. The student also must satisfy the requirements in policy 4115, Behavior Standards for Transfer Students.
5. Behavioral expectations

A student attending a school other than his/her domiciled attendance area is expected to exhibit traits of good citizenship and reasonable educational progress as listed, but not limited to, the following:

1. Following school and district behavior expectations with no repeated or serious violations of the Student Code of Conduct as defined in 4300 series of Board Policies. The Student Code of Conduct handbook is located on the RSS website.
2. Passing grades in at least 75% of subjects/classes; and
3. Attending school regularly without excessive absences or tardies under Policy 4400 Attendance
   1. At the elementary level, more than ten (10) absences a semester or twenty (20) absences a year are considered excessive.
   2. At the middle school level, more than ten (10) absences in a course per semester or twenty (20) absences a year are considered excessive.
   3. At the high school level, more than eight (8) absences in a course during each semester are considered excessive.

The student’s behavioral expectations will be reviewed at least annually by the school principal and Student Services Department.  Failure to comply with the above expectations may result in the Superintendent or his/her designee rescinding the student transfer.

Student applications for reassignment or transfer during the year are approved for an academic school year provided that the student does not violate the stipulations listed above.  The principal can recommend to the Student Assignment Manager that a transfer be revoked if any of the stipulations above are not met, or if evidence arises and is proven that the transfer was requested for athletic or social reasons.