FILE:  JBCD

Cf:  JBA, JBCC

STUDENT TRANSFER AND WITHDRAWAL

SCHOOL ZONE TRANSFERS

Every student attending a school in the St. John the Baptist Parish School System shall attend the school which is located in the school district boundaries in which their parents, custodial parent, guardian or any person or persons having legal custody of said student is legally domiciled. Documentation regarding legal residence shall be based on submission of appropriate proof, such as a utility bill.

No student shall be allowed to attend and be enrolled in a school in another district except under the following circumstances:

1. Specialized academic or vocational curriculum such as special education, not offered in the district of residence.
   
   

2. Graduating seniors who have attended the receiving district for at least the previous two years.
   
   

3. The health of the student is in jeopardy, and a letter from a physician certifying the medical necessity is presented.
   
   

4. The safety of the student is in jeopardy.
   
   

5. A parent of a student seeking transfer is employed by the transferee school district.
   
   

6. Other extreme and undue hardship acceptable to both the superintendent of the transferee and the transferor school districts.

In any instance however, transfers that have the cumulative effect of reducing desegregation in the district or in any school in the district shall be disallowed.

If any parents, custodial parent, guardian or any person or persons having legal custody, under a court order, of a student desire(s) to have this student attend and be enrolled in a school located outside of their normal attendance district, they shall make a written request to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, giving their name and relation to said student, their legal domicile, the school in which the student would normally enroll, the school to which they would like the student to transfer and the reasons why the child should like to transfer.  A copy of this written request shall be given to the principal of the school in the student's attendance zone, and to the principal of the school which the student would like to attend.  The two (2) principals shall provide any comments they may have concerning said request to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance within two (2) days from receipt of a copy of the request.

If the reasons for the request satisfy one of the above mentioned exceptions and does not adversely impact the educational consideration of the student, nor the two (2) affected schools, the request shall be granted within two (2) days.  Otherwise, the request shall be denied.  The reasons for the denial shall be given in writing, within two (2) days, to the person making the transfer request.  If the person making the request does not believe the request was justly denied, they may make a written request to the Superintendent to review the denial.  This request shall be made within two (2) days of the receipt of said written reasons for denial.

If requested, the Superintendent shall review the request for transfer and may grant such request, and notify the person making the request, within two (2) days, if in his/her determination, one of the above mentioned exceptions has been satisfied and said transfer can be made without adversely impacting the educational considerations of the student or the two (2) affected schools.  Otherwise the request shall be denied.  The reasons for the denial shall be given in writing, within two (2) days, to the person making the request.  If the person making the request does not believe the request was justly denied by the Superintendent, they may make a written request to have the School Board review the Superintendent's denial within two (2) days of the receipt of said written reason for denial.  The Superintendent shall place this matter on the agenda at the next regularly scheduled School Board meeting.

The School Board shall review this matter at said meeting and shall advise the person requesting the review of their decision to grant or deny the transfer request in writing within five (5) days from the date the matter was reviewed.

The School Board shall not provide transportation to students whose parents voluntarily opt to send their child to a school outside of their attendance zone.

Employees of the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board may enroll their children in the school in which they work.

MAJORITY TO MINORITY STUDENT TRANSFER

The school district shall permit a student attending a school on the East Bank, in which his/her race is in the majority, to choose to attend another school on the East Bank where space is available, and where his/her race is in the minority.  The school district shall provide transportation to any such student.

The school district shall permit a student attending a school on the West Bank in which his/her race is in the majority to choose to attend another school on the East Bank where space is available, and where his/her race is in the minority.  The school district shall provide transportation to any such student with the understanding that the school district cannot be held responsible should circumstances beyond its control exist which prevent the student from reaching school on time.

TRANSFERS FROM EAST ST. JOHN HIGH SCHOOL TO WEST ST. JOHN HIGH SCHOOL

The School Board shall permit students entering grade 9 at East St. John High School to request a transfer to West St. John High School.  Applications for transfer shall be submitted by May 1 to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.  Should any student granted such a transfer wish to transfer back to East St. John High School, he/she shall be required to submit an application for such as required for all transfers.

Should a large number of students request to transfer from East St. John High School to West St. John High School, a lottery process shall be used to randomly select the students who may transfer.

Students permitted to transfer shall provide their own transportation and all attendance and tardy policies shall be applicable.

WITHDRAWAL

Students shall be required to attend school in accordance with statutory provisions.  Students may be permitted to withdraw from school however, if approved by the Superintendent and School Board.  Such withdrawal must be in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the School Board.

Ref:     La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:221, 17:226, 17:227

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 6-17-76, 8-25-88, 7-31-89, 4-9-91, 4-2-09, 12-2-10, 4-1-15, 1-12-17

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board