DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES F - Students No. 6 F6 Page 1 of 7 Attachment(s): website March 24, 2014 Intra-District Student Transfers This procedure addresses only those transfers to another school initiated by parent request within the Dallas Independent School District (Intra-District). The following are not addressed in this procedure: Transfers into the District from another District [See Administrative Procedure F# Out of District Student Transfers (Inter-District) and Policy FDA]; Safety Transfers [See Administrative Procedure F# Safety Transfers and Policy FDE]; Public Education Grant School Choice (PEG) [See Federal and State Accountability Department webpage and Policy FDAA]; Enrollment and placement of students categorized as homeless [See Homeless Program Department webpage and Policy FDC]; Student placements that are necessitated by the need to enroll a student on another campus that provides Special Education services not available at their home campus [See Special Education Department webpage]; Students applying for admission into a magnet/academy or special programs [See Magnet and Special Programs webpage]; Parent and student complaints, concerns, or grievances with a campus [See Policy FNG] ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS The District s policy on student transfers and reassignments may be found at FDB (LEGAL), FDB (LOCAL), and FDB (REGULATION). Personnel should consult these policies or the Student Transfer Office when their questions remain unanswered in this administrative procedure. 1. In general, a student shall be enrolled in the school serving their attendance zone. 2. The Board of Trustees or its designee may assign or transfer any student from one school facility or classroom to another. [ 25.031 Texas Education Code; Policy FDB (LEGAL)] 3. The Superintendent or his/her designee may assign any student from one school facility to another. [Policy FDB (LOCAL)] 4. Parents are allowed reasonable access to the school Principal, with authority to reassign a student, to request a change in the class or teacher to which their student has been assigned, if the reassignment or change would not affect the assignment or reassignment of another student. [FDB (LEGAL)] 5. The decision concerning an assignment and or/transfer shall be made on an individual basis and neither a student s national origin nor ancestral language shall be a consideration. [ 25.032, Texas Education Code; FDB (LEGAL)] TRANSFER REQUESTS IN GENERAL Parents of students in kindergarten through high school in the Dallas Independent School District may apply for a one year transfer from their child s assigned school to another Dallas ISD school, with available space, that better matches their interests or meets their needs, that offers a course or program the assigned school does not, or for personal or family circumstances that may prevent a student from attending the assigned school. A transfer request must be submitted annually.
STUDENT TRANSFERS (INTRA-DISTRICT) Page 2 of 7 In addition, there must be a valid reason for the transfer to be approved. For example, parents may request a curriculum transfer which allows students to apply for transfer from their assigned school to another Dallas ISD school to take a course that is not offered in the assigned school. Such transfers shall be permitted on a space-available basis. If the reason for the request is not valid or space is not available at the requested school, the request shall be denied and the student shall remain or enroll at their campus of assignment. Furthermore: 1. Transfer applications are accepted within an application window and are for the following school year. [See below for Exceptions to Application Window] 2. The application window dates are determined by the Student Transfer Office and will be made available to parents and schools. 3. Student transfer applications will be made available at campuses and the student transfer office. 4. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to meet the application window deadline. 5. A transfer request must be submitted annually. 6. Students on approved transfers shall remain at the receiving campus for the entire school year they are approved. 7. A campus may choose not to approve a transfer for the following year. [See below for Terms, Conditions, and Expectations of a Transfer] 8. Transportation is NOT provided by the district for student transfers. STUDENT TRANSFER PROCESS The transfer request process requires that the parent/guardian: 1. File a Student Transfer Application within the application window. 2. When requested, include additional documentation with the application to substantiate the request (such as current grades, working document, conduct letter, attendance history, etc). 3. Attain the signature and recommendation for approval or non-approval from the receiving school Principal, first. 4. Attain the signature and recommendation for approval or non-approval from the sending school Principal. 5. Submit the completed Student Transfer Application with both the receiving and sending school Principal signatures and recommendations to the Student Transfer Office for the final approval. 6. If approved by the student transfer office, enroll the student in the receiving campus the following school year. 7. If not approved, the parent will be given an option to appeal the decision to an appeal committee. 8. The student transfer office will facilitate the appeal hearings. 9. The decision of the appeal committee is final. 10. If not approved on appeal, the student is to return to his/her home campus. BURDEN OF PROOF It shall be the burden of the parent/guardian requesting the transfer to provide sufficient information and documentation to support the request for a transfer to include supporting document like, current grades, attendance reports, conduct letters, letters of recommendation, etc. CHILDREN OF DISTRICT EMPLOYEES Dallas ISD employees who are residents of the district shall follow the same procedure for requesting a transfer for their children.
STUDENT TRANSFERS (INTRA-DISTRICT) Page 3 of 7 REASONS FOR A TRANSFER REQUEST Curriculum Transfers: Students may transfer from their neighborhood school to the school nearest to their neighborhood school to take any course that is not offered at the home school. Such transfers shall be permitted on a space-available basis. Hardship Transfers: Students may transfer from their neighborhood school to another school when attending the home school would cause a hardship on the parent and student. The request can range from transferring a student to a campus near the parent s employment so dropping off and picking up a student is not an undue hardship, transferring the student to a school near a relative who can assist in dropping off or picking up the student, transferring the student to a school near a siblings school or where a sibling attends, etc. Medical Transfers: Students may transfer from their home school for documented medical reasons. Parents must complete the application form explaining the precise nature of the medical hardship that requires the transfer. This documentation shall be reviewed by receiving and sending school Principals for recommendations. In turn, it will be sent to the student transfer office, which can submit the documentation to the district s physician for recommendation. The approving authority is the Student Transfer Office. Moved During Term Transfers: Students who move during the term may remain in the school where they are enrolled until the completion of the semester in which the move occurs. If they wish to remain at the campus beyond the semester, a transfer application would need to be completed. Safety and Welfare Transfers: When it is deemed by an appropriate authority that the safety and welfare of a student is endangered by attending a given school, that authority may request a transfer for the student to a school where the student s safety and well-being can be assured. Recommendations for this type of transfer can be made by the Principal, probation officers, Texas Department of Human Resources, case workers, or other official agency having an official concern for the child s wellbeing. The reason for the transfer shall be fully documented, ensuring confidentiality where required, and submitted to receiving and sending school Principals and the Student Transfer Office, which is the approving authority. Senior Option Transfers: Students who are seniors in high school who move into another attendance area during their senior year shall be allowed, without transfer, to finish in the school where they are enrolled, provided they have attended their high school for the three previous years and they have sufficient credits to complete their school work within a year. Students who are seniors in high school, but are on a transfer, shall be allowed the same senior option provided they have attended the same high school for the three previous years and have sufficient credits to complete their school work within a year.
STUDENT TRANSFERS (INTRA-DISTRICT) Page 4 of 7 CAMPUS CODING OF TRANSFER REASONS The receiving campus should ensure the correct coding is inputted for the transfer. See codes below: Reason: Code: Curriculum L Hardship T Medical H Moved During Term R Safety and Welfare W Senior Option O TRANSFER OF OTHERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT S HOUSEHOLD If the District assigns a student to a District campus other than the campus the student would attend based on the student s residence, for purposes of receiving special education services, the district shall permit the student s parent, guardian, or other person standing in parental relation to the student to obtain a transfer to the assigned campus for any other student residing in the household of the student receiving special education services, subject to the conditions below. A student residing in the same household as the transferred special education student is eligible for a transfer if: 1. The other student is entitled to attend school in the District. [see FD]; 2. The appropriate grade level for the other student is offered at the campus. This provision does not apply if the student receiving special education services resides in a residential facility. The District is not required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus under this provision. CRITERIA FOR NON-APPROVAL OF TRANSFER The receiving campus may deny a transfer application. A reasonable basis for a denial may include the following, but not limited to: Administration s projection of adverse impact on the home campus and/or receiving campus/or class; The need to maintain staffing levels and/or class size; The requested grade level is at capacity; The impact on and/or displacement of another student; The adverse impact on attendance zones; Facility limitations or changes; TERMS, CONDITIONS, & EXPECTATIONS OF A TRANSFER Transfer students are expected to follow school rules, attend school regularly and on time both at the beginning of the day and throughout, maintain passing grades and appropriate behavior, and participate in school activities. Parents of transfer students are expected to support their children in their academic efforts and behavior, participate in parent activities, and ensure their children are on time and ready for school every day. If any of the above conditions are not met, the transfer may not be approved for the next year. In addition, campuses are expected to provide parent advocacy and information services, support for the student s full year stay on the campus, and a climate of acceptance. The district is also expected to provide an equitable and consistent Student Transfer Program.
STUDENT TRANSFERS (INTRA-DISTRICT) Page 5 of 7 EXCEPTIONS TO APPLICATION WINDOW Parents of currently enrolled students are expected to apply within the transfer application window. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to meet the application window deadline. Transfer application(s) for current student(s) submitted past the deadline will not be accepted. A receiving school principal is not required to make an exception to the deadline. However, in some situations a receiving school principal may wish to accept and approve an application beyond the deadline because of a specific situation or identified need. In these instances, the sending school principal must be informed and each situation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by both the receiving school principal and sending school principal. Both principals must be in agreement to the exception before the transfer is approved and the Student Transfer Office must be informed of the agreed exception(s). In such exceptions, it is preferred that the receiving school sends the completed application(s) for the parent to the Student Transfer Office. Additionally, a parent of a student not enrolled during the application period may apply for a transfer at the time of enrollment. Approval criteria will be the same as an application filed within the application window. There are no appeals for denied applications submitted past the deadline. PARENT CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS WITH THEIR CAMPUS In some instances, a parent or guardian may request a transfer to another campus during the current school year based on the parent s complaint(s) against their home campus pertaining to how the student has been handled or other issues such as enrollment delays or denials, conflicts with personnel, disagreement with discipline consequences, clash of personalities, disagreement with grades, truancy consequences, etc. Such requests will not be granted. The campus principal should make attempts to resolve the complaint(s) at the campus level. The parent may also be referred to the respective division parent specialist for assistance. Formal complaints or grievances with a campus can be addressed through policy FNG. TRANSFER REQUEST FOR CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR A parent or home campus may request a transfer for a student at any time during the school year for safety transfers [See Administrative Procedure F# Safety Transfers and Policy FDE]. Before a request for the transfer is made, the home campus principal MUST have documented and exhausted all plans of action and interventions. ASSIGNMENTS AND REASSIGNMENTS 1. Parents are allowed reasonable access to the school principal, or a designated administrator, with the authority to reassign a student, to request a change in the class or teacher to which their student has been assigned. 2. The decision concerning an assignment and transfers shall be made on an individual basis and neither a student s national origin nor ancestral language shall be a consideration. 3. The Principal or designated administrator shall have authority to reassign a student and to make a change in the student s class or teacher, if the reassignment or change would not affect the assignment or reassignment of another student on the campus. STUDENT ASSIGNMENT TO A CLASS OR A TEACHER 1. The principal or designee on each campus shall assign students to particular classes and teachers.
STUDENT TRANSFERS (INTRA-DISTRICT) Page 6 of 7 2. Students experiencing problems in a class: If a student experiences problems in a class, the parent or guardian is expected to first meet with the teacher to discuss the factors contributing to the problems before meeting with the principal or requesting a change in class assignment. a. If the child is experiencing academic problems, the teacher shall notify appropriate campus support staff for additional help. The counselor may be involved in the conference and the teacher or counselor may request that a Response to Intervention plan be developed for the student. b. If a problem exists between the student and teacher, the parent/guardian and the teacher shall attempt to resolve the problem. REQUEST FOR ASSIGNMENT OR REASSIGNMENT A parent or other person standing in parental relation with a student may request a specific class assignment or a change in assignment. 1. If a parent or legal guardian wishes that a child be reassigned to another class or to another teacher, they shall ask for a conference with the principal or designated administrator. The principal may request the parent submit a written request explaining the reasons for the request. 2. The Principal or designated administrator shall convene a conference to discuss the request. If appropriate, the student s counselor, the teacher, or another staff member who has worked with the student may be included in the conference. 3. The conference participants may determine that actions other than a change in assignment are appropriate. If so, participants will plan specific ways to support the student in order to have the student experience success in the class. A Response to Intervention plan may also be suggested to establish intervention strategies. If a problem concerns another student, the school personnel may employ such methods as conflict resolution or specific behavior curriculum. If a problem exists between the student and teacher, efforts shall be made to resolve those conflicts at the conference. 4. If, in the judgment of the principal or the designated administrator, the situation in the classroom is beyond resolution, they shall determine what options are available. Options may include assignments to another class section with the same teacher, or assignment to a class with a different teacher. The reassignment cannot be made if it affects the assignment or reassignment of another student. 5. The decision shall be communicated to the parent/guardian and the student. SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENT CONDITIONS Placement of Older Students: If the District admits a person who is 21 years of age or older to complete the requirements for a high school diploma, and the person has not attended school in the three preceding school years, the District may not place the person with a student who is 18 years or younger in a classroom setting, a cafeteria, or another District-sanctioned school activity. This restriction does not prevent the person from attending a school-sponsored event that is open to the public as a member of the public. [ 25.001 (b-2) Texas Education Code] Multiple Birth Siblings: The parent of multiple birth siblings (twins, triplets, etc.) who are assigned to the same grade level and school may request in writing, not later than the fourteenth day after the first day of enrollment, that the school place the siblings in the same classroom or in separate classrooms.
STUDENT TRANSFERS (INTRA-DISTRICT) Page 7 of 7 A school shall provide the placement requested. However, the District is not required to place multiple birth siblings in separate classrooms if the request would require the District to add an additional class to the grade level of the siblings. The school may recommend to a parent the appropriate classroom placement and may provide professional educational advice to assist the parent with the decision. These provisions do not affect: 1. A right or obligation regarding the individual placement decisions of the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee with respect to students receiving special education services. [see EHBAB]; or 2. The right of a teacher to remove a student from a classroom under chapter 37 [see FOA]. At the end of the first grading period following the multiple birth siblings enrollment in the school, if the principal of the school, in consultation with the teacher of each classroom in which the siblings are placed, determines that the requested classroom placement is disruptive to the school, the principal may determine the appropriate classroom placement for the siblings. A parent may appeal the principal s classroom placement in the manner provided by District policy. During an appeal, the siblings shall remain in the classroom chosen by the parent. [See FNG] Victim of Bullying: [See Administrative Procedure F# Safety Transfers and Policy FDB] Students in Academically Unacceptable Schools: [Public Education Grant School Choice (PEG) {See Federal and State Accountability Department webpage and Policy FDAA}] References: Board Policy FDB (LEGAL; FDB (LOCAL); FDB (REGULATION) Quick Links: http://www.dallasisd.org/page/100 http://pol.tasb.org/home/index/361 Questions regarding this procedure should be addressed to: Student Transfer Office 2617 N. Henderson Ave. Portable 1 (behind James Bonham Elementary, Dallas, Texas, 75206 (972) 749-5720-main (972) 749-5724-fax