At the June 1 meeting, the School Board approved revisions to the Enrollment and Transfer Policy and renamed it as the Options and Transfers Policy. The updated policy was reviewed through a five-month community process to solicit feedback, and the changes will be implemented beginning in the 2018-19 school year.

The revised policy has been simplified to make it easier for families to understand; ensures that all students are guaranteed a seat at their neighborhood school; and standardizes the process for admission to option schools. Families will be able to apply to an “option” school (for example: H-B Woodlawn, International Baccalaureate, Montessori and immersion programs that have no fixed boundary), or may request a transfer to another neighborhood school if space is available.

Policy changes will not affect students who are enrolled prior to the 2018-19 school year, and these students would be “grandfathered” to continue attending through their current school’s grade levels. Additional policy changes are designed to keep families together to every extent possible, and include:

• Sibling preference is available at the elementary level only. Younger students who have an older sibling that is “grandfathered” into a school will be able to attend the same school.
• Twins or multiples will be treated as “one” in an option school lottery if both are in the same grade, share at least one parent or guardian in common, and the parent or guardian has full or shared custody for them.
• Transportation will be provided to students who attend their neighborhood school or an option school, if admitted. Students with older siblings that are “grandfathered” into their current school would also receive transportation to that same school, if concurrently enrolled. Families would be responsible for transportation if a student transfers to another neighborhood school.

NEXT STEPS
The revised Policy also includes a Policy Implementation Procedures (PIP) that outlines in greater detail the process to be used to implement the provisions in the policy.Staff will provide the Board with an annual update with recommendations to address capacity in the Fall.