Space limitations often make transfers difficult, and each district's process has its own regulations, so be sure to check with your local district for specific requirements.
In 1990 the Washington state Legislature adopted the Learning by Choice law. A key component of this law is Family Choice, which allows parents to select which public schools their children will attend, within certain limitations. No school district is required to accept a student requesting a transfer if the district does not have space.
Interdistrict Transfers
The law says a district should release a student to another district, provided that the district has space and agrees to accept that student for one of the following reasons:
- A financial, educational, safety or health condition of the student would likely be improved as a result of the transfer.
- Attendance at the school in the nonresident district is more accessible to the parent’s place of work or to the location of child care.
- There is a special hardship or detrimental condition.
The student’s resident district may deny a transfer request if the request would adversely affect the district’s existing desegregation plan, or if none of the conditions outlined above exist. Schools also have the right to deny transfers to students who have a history of disruptive behavior or gang membership. Schools may not charge a transfer fee or tuition for nonresident students.
Intradistrict Transfers
For transfers within a school district, each district is required to have its own policy which establishes standards for transfers and how they will be implemented. These policies, set by the local school board, must be fair and equitable to all students.
Appeals
If your child applies for an interdistrict transfer and your home district refuses to release the student, you have the right to appeal to the superintendent of public instruction or his designee, provided that the district you are applying to has space. If you apply to another district for a transfer and the receiving district denies your request, you can appeal in the same way. If the district did not comply with the regulations specified for interdistrict transfers (see above), or if the process was not conducted in a fair and equitable manner, the superintendent may order the district to accept the nonresident student. The decision of the superintendent may be appealed to the Superior Court.
Transportation
If you choose to send your child to a school where the existing district transportation routes do not meet your needs, you are responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation. There is a provision in the state law for reimbursing low-income families (generally, those families whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches) for transportation costs from their home to their school of choice, subject to the availability of funds. Contact your local school district for information.
Additional Resources
To learn about other school choice options, see:
School Choice in Washington: An Overview of Your Options
Seattle has one of the most liberal school choice plans in the state. To learn more about how it works, read:
School Choice in Seattle Promotes Innovation
In the What Are Your Child's Alternatives? section of the Parent Resource Center, you’ll find more ideas on school choice options.
To find schools that meet your specific needs in a particular geographic area, start with the School Choice Wizard.
Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction publishes a free booklet, “Learning by Choice,” which explains the school choice laws. You can obtain a copy by calling 1-999-59-LEARN or visiting the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website and referring to the document number: 01-0041. Updated February 2005
