Descriptor Code: JBCC
Student Assignment and Reassignment
I. STUDENT ASSIGNMENT
Any student enrolled in the School District will enroll in the school of the attendance area in which they reside unless special authorization is given by the Superintendent of Schools or designee through the reassignment process. Attendance areas (school zones) are designated by the School Board. Transportation is only provided for a student attending school in his/her attendance area.
Students who move outside their school’s attendance area may complete the semester in that school at the discretion of the school’s Principal if they are able to provide transportation and acceptable grades, conduct and attendance are maintained. At the end of that semester, the student must attend the school in the attendance area where he/she currently resides. Additionally, students in the highest grade in their school may complete the school year if a move occurs during that time, provided the aforementioned conditions are acceptably maintained.
II. STUDENT REASSIGNMENT
The School District is committed to providing quality educational opportunities for all students by providing educational options that enhance each student’s opportunity for success. The School Board is also committed to providing settings for education that promote the understanding of cultural diversity, tolerance, fair play and reinforce the positive tenets of a democratic society. Finally, the School Board is committed to encouraging all parents to play an active role in their children’s education by allowing parents to have the opportunity to have choices in educational settings. Therefore, the School District allows students to apply for reassignment to any other school in the School District that is not designated as overcrowded.
III. STUDENT REASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES
Under the direction of the Superintendent, comprehensive administrative guidelines governing student reassignments will be established and maintained.
Additionally, school transfer guidelines will be established relative to Federal and State law regarding school transfer options.
REVISED: July 16, 2020
CCSD Administrative Guidelines Regarding Student Reassignment
Pursuant to the School Board’s Student Reassignment Policy (JBCC), these administrative guidelines are to be utilized by CCSD staff in Policy application:
I. Introduction to Student Reassignment
Compliance
Student Reassignment Applications will be made and acted upon in accordance with Federal Legislation, Georgia Statutes, Georgia State Board of Education Rules, as well as Cherokee County School Board Policy and Administrative Guidelines. Reporting and Monitoring In as much as the Cherokee County School District is committed to ensuring equal access and promoting diversity, it will analyze annually and maintain records regarding:
II. Administrative Components of Reassignments
Student/Parent Accountability
Acceptable behavior, attendance, grades, and a cooperative/productive relationship between home and school must be maintained in order for approved reassignments to remain valid. Students of employees must meet these same requirements.
Transportation Services
The parent/guardian is obligated to provide transportation for students attending a school on reassignment. This would include transportation to any daycare facility.
Athletic/Activity Eligibility
All reassignments are considered a permissive transfer per Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Guidelines (permissive transfer does not carry eligibility). As such, if a student reassignment is granted during the school year and/or for the following school year, the student will be ineligible for Varsity-level athletics at the reassigned school for a twelve-month period. For questions on athletic eligibility, please contact your reassigned school Athletic Director.
Applications/Deadlines Student Reassignment
Applications will be available at all schools and on the CCSD website. https://www.cherokeek12.net/forms-updates
Applications for Upcoming School Year
Parents/guardian must submit the completed application for the following school year to the Principal of their assigned residence school between February 1 and March 1 unless a specific type of reassignment has a State-defined due date (e.g., Reassignments for Special Needs Students). Principals will submit completed Reassignment Applications to the Executive Director of School Operations immediately upon receipt.
Application Review and Parent/School Notification
The Executive Director of School Operations will review all Reassignment Applications based upon the provisions of Policy, will render a decision on the parents’ request and notify parents/guardians, and the sending and receiving schools of the decision. Any student currently receiving any special education services and requesting reassignment, must have that request reviewed by the Executive Director of Special Education, as well as the Principals of the sending and receiving schools.
Length of Reassignment
Once a reassignment is granted to a student for a given school, the reassignment remains effective through the highest grade of the school as long as the student remains in good standing. The student is not required to re-submit a Reassignment Application on an annual basis.
Portability of Reassignment
Reassignments cannot be transferred from school to school. In the case of a student matriculating from one school to another (i.e., promoted from elementary school to middle school, promoted from middle school to high school, etc.), a new Reassignment Application must be submitted for approval.
Review of Standing Reassignments
The Executive Director of School Operations will review all previously requested and approved reassignments as part of the School District’s Annual Boundary Process to determine the advisability of their continuation. Where changes in this regard are deemed in the best interest of the School District, the Superintendent will include these recommendations within the annual boundary proposals.
III. The Four Types of Student Reassignment
The Superintendent (or designee) may approve student reassignment requests for a variety of family circumstances or educational reasons. Parents/guardians must indicate such circumstance or educational reason for a reassignment through the School District application process.
1. School Choice/Open School reassignment for Special Needs Students (Statutorily-determined by SB10, 2006)
“Special Needs” transfers allow students currently receiving Special Education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to seek enrollment transfers to schools that (a) offer commensurate services, (b) are in an “Open Status” because enrollment at these schools are below capacity and (c) have space available within the grade requested.
2. School Choice/Open School reassignment for Non-Special Needs Students (Statutorily-determined by HB251, 2009)
Student reassignments allow other Non-Special Education students to seek enrollment reassignment to schools that are in an “Open Status” because these schools (a) are below the facilities enrollment capacity and (b) have space available within the grade requested.
3. Reassignment for Curricular Programs
School Board Policy AD permits students to petition the Superintendent for consideration for transfer to a school which offers a specific curricular program of study not available at the school to which the student is zoned within the School District’s Annual Boundary Process.
4. Hardship Reassignment
Hardship reassignments allow students, because of hardship or statutory provisions, to seek transfers to schools that are potentially in a “Closed Status” because they had been determined to be at- or over-capacity. These provisions include:
a) A documented medical, emotional or psychological reason (CCSD Medical or Psychological Hardship Form for documenting this hardship is required).
b) Student is in the highest-grade level in their school when a move has taken place.
c) Student displacement resulting from an intervention by a government agency (i.e., DFCS, DJJ, etc.).
d) An elementary school is located in close proximity to the parents’ workplace or a daycare used by the family and a hardship condition exists. (Note: If daycare is the catalyst for a hardship request, the requesting parent must ensure the daycare provider can provide the necessary transportation to/from school—reassigned students are not eligible for transportation.)
e) A child of a full-time school system employee desiring to attend the school where the parent works (provided through GA Code § 20-2-293). Relative to children of full-time school system employees, these same provisions apply. Full-time school system employees may enroll their children in schools located within the school Innovation Zone for which they are employed, except in cases where student enrollment exceeds capacity.
IV. Determination of School Capacity
Timeline for Determining Capacity
Following completion of the School District’s Annual Boundary Process, the capacity for each school in the School District to accept student reassignments will be determined and a corresponding list developed of school status classifications. (Note: School capacity will be determined in accordance with applicable State Board Rules and School District Protocol)
Process for Determining Capacity
In determining capacity at each of the School District’s schools, the Office of Planning and Forecasting will begin determining capacity with the State’s Instructional Unit (IU) formula at each school. In addition to this baseline data, the Office of Planning and Forecasting will also consider other factors that could increase or decrease capacity at each school. These factors may include, but not be limited to, some of the following related to the impact on each building’s permanent classroom capacity:
School Status Determination
*A complete listing of open and closed schools for the upcoming school year can be found on the CCSD Website: https://www.cherokeek12.net/forms-updates under heading: School Reassignment
