Students in Bellingham Public Schools are required to attend the school designated for the attendance area in which they reside. A parent/guardian may request that a student be allowed to attend another school in the district.
The following procedures are to be followed for student attendance area transfer requests for grades K–12.
Transfer requests for the next school year will be accepted beginning February 15 prior to the fall semester.
Review in Spring
- The parent/guardian submits the Request for Student Attendance Area Transfer Form 3131F online. Paper copies of the form can be obtained at school offices; and submitted to the neighborhood school if it is a new request and to the requested school if it is a continuing transfer request.
- Approved transfer requests are valid for one school year. Transfer requests must be submitted and reviewed annually.
- Principals will meet in early spring to review requests received by March 1. Principals will meet to review the first round of transfer requests no later than March 15. The parent/guardian will be notified of the decision by the end of March. Transfer requests may be held for review in fall. Administrators will use the following guidelines as they review transfer requests. They will determine whether:
- Appropriate educational programs or services are available to improve the student’s condition or opportunities as stated in requesting the transfer.
- Space is available at the grade level or classes at the school requested.
- The transfer would allow siblings to attend the same school.
- The student’s transfer is likely to create a risk to the health or safety of other students or staff at the new school.
- The student has discipline issues, chronic attendance problems or is lacking academic progress.
- The school can adequately meet the needs of the student and/or family based on principal determination.
- The student is the child of a full-time certificated or classified employee who meets the qualifications for a transfer (ESSB 5142).
- Receiving school principals will notify parents/guardians in writing of approved transfer decisions. The attendance area/home school principal will notify parents/guardians in writing of denied transfer requests. If the request for transfer is denied, the parent/guardian may appeal to the deputy superintendent or designee for review of the decision.
- Appeals must be made in writing within 10 working days of the notification (email or letter) of the denial of transfer.
- The decision on the appeal is final.
Review in Fall
- Principals will determine the number of places they have available, if any, for attendance area transfer students no later than the fifth day of school.
- Receiving school principals will notify the parent/guardian in writing of approved transfer decisions. The attendance area/home school principal will notify the parent/guardian in writing of denied transfer requests.
- If the request for transfer is denied, the parent/guardian may appeal to the deputy superintendent for review of the decision by the principals.
- The appeal must be made in writing within 10 working days of the notification (email or letter) of the denial of transfer.
- The decision on the appeal is final.
Parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation for all students who transfer between schools.
Lack of academic effort, poor attendance, excessive tardiness or discipline problems shall provide just cause for the district to return a student to their attendance area school. Transfers of students back to their attendance area schools for any of these reasons will occur at the end of a term unless the time of transfer is mutually agreed upon by both the attendance area school and hosting school principal.
Duration of the transfer is for the designated school year only or a stated period of lesser duration. Acceptance of students who are the children of full-time employees will be for the duration of their schooling or until the parent/guardian is no longer a full-time employee with the district.