The Rowan-Salisbury School System (RSSS) Board of Education shall assign students to schools based on their domicile.  It is the intent of the Board of Education that a student should attend the school that serves his/her domicile.  Exceptions to this will be made in limited circumstances within the criteria provided below.

A.      Requests for Student Transfer

Parents or guardians may request a transfer to a school outside of their assigned school attendance area.  Such a request must be submitted utilizing the Initial Transfer Form #1 (forms are available at each school site, the Enrollment Office and on the RSSS website).  The completed form must be submitted during the spring transfer window to the releasing principal.  The request must state the specific reason for the transfer.  All supporting documentation must be attached to Initial Transfer Form #1.  The Student Transfer Coordinator will gather information from principals and the Student Transfer Committee to consider and make a determination based upon the best interest of the child, the orderly and efficient administration of the public schools, and the health and safety of the pupils.  A decision will be made and the parent notified in writing.

Please note that although a student may have multiple residences, they may only have one domicile.  The parent/legal custodian’s domicile is used to establish the school assignment.  It is expected that the child reside with the parent/legal custodian.

B. Possible Reasons for Student Transfer

1.  Change of Domicile
Students whose domicile changes from one school assignment area to another within the RSSS during the same school year, may choose to finish out that school year in the same school provided they have demonstrated acceptable academic performance, conduct, and attendance, or move to the school where they are domiciled.  They shall be assigned to the school according to their domicile at the beginning of the next school year.

A student who chooses to finish a school year in the school in which he/she began the year following a change in domicile will be subject to all stipulations for approved transfers as stated in section H, ubsections “a-e” of this policy.

Parents/guardians should notify the principal of a change of domicile within two weeks of a move but must notify the principal within one month or enroll at the school where they are domiciled.

Parents/legal custodians must provide evidence of a change of domicile at the time such is granted and provide proof of abandonment of the previous residence. 

2.  Special Curricular Needs
The board attempts to provide the same or similar curriculum offerings in schools that serve similar grades.  The school administration will work with the student to acquire curricular offerings as a visiting student.  In extraordinary circumstances, a student who is unable to obtain specially needed courses, programs or academies (for rising ninth grade students) in his/her regularly assigned school, may be reassigned to another school within RSSS in order to enroll in a program of study or academy (for rising 
ninth grade students) not offered.  If a student fails to enroll and continue in a requested course or academy the principal will recommend that the transfer be revoked.  Transfers into high school academies for rising ninth graders will be granted on a space available basis, with students in the
academy host school being given first opportunity for enrollment in the academy.

3.  School Utilization
A student or group of students may be reassigned or transferred when it would provide for the more orderly and efficient administration and operation of the schools in RSSS.

4.  Exceptional Student Program Transfers
Students who are identified as exceptional children by RSSS may be assigned to schools in attendance areas other than the ones in which they are domiciled in order to ensure proper placement of the students to meet their educational needs.

5.  Medical Condition
A request for transfer based upon the health of student may be approved only in extraordinary circumstances. Students requesting a transfer based upon a medical condition must include a written statement from a licensed physician or psychiatrist/psychologist that includes a diagnosis of the medical condition and elaborates on specific medical advantages that are expected to accrue if transfer is granted.

6.  Hardship; Extreme or Unusual Circumstances A request for transfer may be approved because of unforeseen, emergency or other extreme or unusual circumstances that affect a student’s achievement and/or behavior in the school.  Such transfer requests shall be considered upon the written request of the parent or guardian.  Evidence of hardship or extreme or unusual circumstances is required.

C.Emergency Transfer Requests

A request for transfer that occurs after the spring transfer period has ended is regarded as an emergency transfer.   Granting such a request will be based on whether or not it meets the criteria to approve transfers as contained in section “B.”  Failure to apply for a transfer during the spring transfer period is not considered an emergency situation as defined in Section B. 6.

Emergency transfer requests for the start of a new school year must be received between June 1 and July 31.  Emergency transfer requests received during the school year must be received by the mid-point of the academic quarter.  Students granted an emergency transfer will normally begin attendance at the transfer school at the beginning of a new quarter.

D. Transfer from Areas Outside Rowan County

Before enrollment, the principal or other RSSS administrator shall verify the domicile of these students by requesting appropriate documentary evidence.  In order for a non-domiciled student to enroll in RSSS, one or more of the following provisions must be met:

1.  Non-domiciled Students

a.    Parent must pay a tuition charge equal to the RSSS per pupil local support for education in the previous school year.
b.   RSSS full-time employees receiving benefits may request student assignment for their children in a Rowan-Salisbury School.
c.    Parent must secure a release from the administrative unit serving the parent’s domicile.
d.   Requesting student must be in good standing in the current administrative unit.  Students who have been excluded from another administrative unit will not be accepted into the Rowan-Salisbury School System.
e.    Requesting student must comply with NC GS 115C-366(a3), a directive concerning suspension, expulsion and felony charges. The assignment of a non-domiciled student shall be effective only for the
current school year, but may be renewed annually in the discretion of the boards involved (NC GS 115C-366(d).

2.   Non-domiciled Parents

a.    The parent or legal guardian must provide a court order assigning custody of a student to a domiciliary of the requested school attendance area in Rowan County.  In the case of assigned custody, the student is considered a resident of Rowan County and is immediately eligible for school
placement as a county resident, or
b.   The parent or legal guardian must comply with the S.L. 1997-271 Senate Bill 958, an act to allow students who reside with a domiciliary of a local school administrative unit to attend the public schools of that unit without payment of tuition by completion and verification of affidavit.

 E. Approval of Students to Attend Another Administrative Unit

Upon approval of an application for transfer, students shall be released to attend school in another administrative unit until such time as the number of students leaving the district differs substantially from those coming into the district.  If a principal has reason to believe that a request to transfer out of district is for athletic reasons, he shall confer with the superintendent/designee.  If the superintendent/designee agrees with the principal, the release shall be denied.  Each year the RSSS Board of Education will review a summary report of all approved transfer requests.

F. School Bus Transportation

Students released to attend a school outside the attendance zone in which their domicile is located must provide their own transportation.

G. Athletic Wait Period

Upon approval of any 7th grade, 8th grade, or high school transfer, there will be a one-year (365 days) athletic wait period before athletic eligibility or cheerleading eligibility can be established.  This provision means that a transfer student may have a one-year (365 days) athletic wait period while in middle school and again in high school.  This wait period would also include all students transferring from outside the RSSS district.  This wait time will begin on the date of enrollment at the school requested (enrollment begins the day a student attends classes).  If a high school student is legally enrolled and in attendance on the first day of classes at the school of transfer, he/she will be eligible for athletics the week of August 1 of the next school year.  Students of full-time employees receiving benefits of the RSSS are exempt from the athletic wait period for a first middle or first high school transfer.  Students of full-time employees receiving benefits will be subject to a 365 day athletic wait period if a second transfer request is granted within the same grade span (middle or high school).  The athletic wait period will be waived for a senior who receives a Board approved transfer to complete the final year of high school in the high school that he/she attended during the junior year.  The athletic wait period will be waived for ninth grade students who receive a transfer in order to participate in a Board approved academy. 

Students who attended a RSSS middle or high school under a transfer will be subject to a 365 day athletic wait period in the event they choose to return to the “home school” within a grade span (middle or high school).

Staff members (including full-time, part-time, non-faculty coaches or volunteers) who exercise influence (direct or indirect) upon prospective athletes in an attempt to influence the athlete’s school assignment or violate any portion of this policy, will be subject to disciplinary actions up to and including the termination of employment.  Additionally, if a student, parent or legal guardian is party to a violation of any part of this policy, the student’s right to participate in interscholastic athletics may be denied.

H. Stipulations for Approved Transfers

a.  provide transportation to and from school
b.  comply with the district’s attendance policy
c.  exhibit exemplary conduct
d.  maintain the academic average for promotion to the next grade level
e.  continued enrollment in requested courses

Students whose applications for transfer are approved may complete every grade offered at that school without an additional transfer application, provided that the student does not violate the stipulations listed above.  The principal can recommend to the Student Transfer Coordinator 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 or if the transfer was granted based on false or misleading
information.  Once the highest grade is completed, the transferred student will automatically return to the school of domicile, unless a new application is submitted and approved.

I. RSSS Employees

Students of full-time employees (defined as employees who receive benefits) requesting transfers will be given preference if space is available.  Upon approval, the student is subject to the stipulations listed above in Section H.  Students of full-time employees receiving benefits of the RSSS are exempt from the athletic wait period.  If an employee resigns from the RSSS schools, their child may complete the current year, but will have to reapply for a transfer the following year.  Barring an emergency transfer situation, transfer requests for children of employees must occur within the spring transfer window.  Barring an emergency situation, employees will be limited to one student transfer request per year.

J. How to Appeal a Transfer

Any parent may contest a transfer denial by writing a short and clear statement to the Student Transfer Coordinator related to the original reason and documentation for the transfer request.  The statement must be received within five (5) working days after receiving the denial of the transfer.  The Superintendent’s designee (Student Transfer Coordinator) will study the written request, hold any necessary hearing, and render a decision within ten (10) working days.  If the parent is still dissatisfied, the decision may be appealed to the next level by sending a written notice to the Board of Education Appeals Committee within five (5) days of receipt of the Student Transfer Coordinator’s decision.  The Appeals Committee of the Board will hear the request (based on the reason and documentation on the original transfer application).  The Committee’s recommendation shall be submitted to the Board of Education for a final determination.  The Board shall render a prompt decision, and notice of the decision shall be given by registered or certified mail.

Legal Reference(s):  NC Gen. Statute 115C-36, -366, -367, -369