3141 Policy – Nonresident Students

Consistent with Chapter 28A.225 RCW, any聽student who resides outside the district may apply to attend a school in the district or file the parental declaration of the intent to provide home-based instruction and enroll for ancillary services, if any. All applications for nonresident attendance or home-based instruction will be considered equally.

 

The superintendent or designee annually will inform parents/guardians of the inter-district enrollment options and parental involvement opportunities. Information on inter-district acceptance policies will be provided to nonresidents on request. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this policy unless a parent/guardian specifically requests information to be provided in written form.聽The district will not charge any transfer fees or tuition costs for enrolling eligible nonresident students.

 

The district uses the Washington State Choice Transfer Request Portal to process requests for student transfer enrollment and into online or alternative learning experience programs or schools.

 

A student who resides in a district that does not operate a secondary program will be permitted to enroll in secondary schools in this district in accordance with state law and regulation relating to the financial responsibility of the resident district.

 

Standards for Accepting or Rejecting an Application

The superintendent or designee will create procedures for accepting or rejecting an application for nonresident admission.

 

Admission or Denial: Notice of Decision and Appeal of Decision

The superintendent, or designee will create procedures to notify applications of the decision and how to appeal the decision consistent with RCW 28A.225.

 

If the application is denied there are two options for an appeal.

The parent/guardian may appeal the denial to the district鈥檚 superintendent or designee. The superintendent or designee will, in a timely manner, provide the parent/guardian with a written notification of the final appeal decision to either grant or deny the student鈥檚 admittance into the district.

 

The parent/guardian may appeal the denial directly to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or their designee as detailed in RCW 28A.225.230. The parent/guardian does not need to appeal to the district before appealing to OSPI.

A copy of the appeal application form and the denial letter/email can be sent to:

Administrative Resource Services 鈥 Transfer Appeal

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

PO Box 47200

Children of Full-Time Employees
Pursuant to RCW 28A.225.225, a nonresident student who is the child of a full-time certificated or classified employee will be permitted to enroll:

A. At the school where the employee is assigned.

B. At a school forming the district鈥檚 kindergarten through 12th grade continuum, which includes the school where the employee is assigned; the student remains enrolled until they complete schooling; or

C. At a school in the district that provides early intervention services pursuant to RCW 28A.155.065 and/or preschool services pursuant to RCW 28A.155.070 if the student is eligible for such services.

The district may reject the application of a student who is the child of a full-time employee聽if:

A. Disciplinary records or other evidence supports a conclusion that the student has a history of convictions, violent or disruptive behavior or gang membership; or

B. The student has been expelled or suspended from a public school for more than 10 consecutive days (however, the district鈥檚 policies for allowing readmission of expelled or suspended students and the required reengagement procedures under this rule must apply uniformly to both resident and nonresident applicants seeking admission, pursuant to RCW 28A.225.225(2)(b)); or

C. The student has repeatedly failed to comply with requirements for participation in an online school program, such as participating in weekly direct contact with the teacher or monthly progress evaluations.

Adopted/Revised: 01/15/04; 02/23/12; 10/14/14; 01/23/15; 10/19/17; 06/05/23
Updated: 03/19/24
Superintendent or Board Approved: Superintendent Approved
Cross References: Content
 

3120 Enrollment

3115 Students Experiencing Homelessness-Enrollments Rights and Services


Legal References: Content
 

, Adults, children from other districts, agreements for attending school 鈥 Tuition

, Applications from school employees鈥 children, nonresident students, or students receiving home-based instruction to attend district school 鈥 Acceptance and rejection standards 鈥 Notification.

RCW 28A.225.230 Appeal from certain decisions to deny student鈥檚 request to attend nonresident district-Procedure

, Apportionment credit

, Enrollment options information booklet

, Enrollment options information to parents

RCW 28A.250.070 Rights of students to attend nonresident school district for the purposes of enrolling in alternative learning

, Finance 鈥 Nonresident attendance


Management Resources: Content
 

Policy News, December 2018 Nonresident Students

Policy News, October 2015 Nonresident Students Policy Updated

Policy News, June 2003, Enrolling children of School Employees

Policy News, September 1999, School safety bills impact policy