Success with transferring child out of zoned home school and into another school in Montgomery Cty

[Anonymous]

Hello, I was wondering if any parents had success with transferring their child from their zoned home school to another home school in Montgomery County. I am very concerned about the elementary school my child is supposed to attend. It also does not have an after school program like Kidsco and he would need to go to one of those programs as both parent work. I would like to send him to another elementary school but I'm hearing that childcare is not enough of a reason to transfer school; however some parents have been successful. I'm wondering if anyone had any advice about this.

[Anonymous]

My Change of School Assignment was approved. I chose "hardship" and explained that my son had been in day care in the school that I wanted him changed to, and my relatives, who took care of him on non-day care days, lived very close to that school (however they were not in that school's assignment area). For my son to attend our home school, we would have had to find before and after care every day, and we just couldn't afford that, plus my son had a bond with the new school already. I don't know which point was the strongest, but it was approved. He is in kindergarten, so this is very recent.

My sister-in-law also had her kids' assignment changed to the school that went along with my in-laws address, because they were her before and after care. So day care CAN be a legitimate reason. I would not mention that the home school is not "good" because let's face it, I'm sure if that was a good enough reason, most parents would want their kids out, especially if your home school is Title I. I would stress the logistics--I know other parents have had their assignments changed based on where they work, as well.

[Anonymous]

Your best shot, for transferring in elementary school, is to try to get into an immersion program. If you don't care whether it's French or Spanish, by all means apply to both because the lotteries have lots of applicants and you are not guaranteed a slot. The normal entrance year is K, but the programs will also take a few kids for 1st grade (but not after 1st grade unless your kid already knows the language somewhat).

And try to ignore the hostile posts that will inevitably follow, questioning your motives and calling you a racist.

[Anonymous]

1st PP here--I should note that my son's new school is Title I, so it was clear that I wasn't asking for the CoSA just to get him out of a "bad" school. If your motivation really is your perceived quality of your home school, I would take a closer look and not just rely on racial makeup and SES to determine how you really feel about it.

But it sounds like childcare is the more pressing issue anyway. If it's not approved, many schools that do not have in-house daycare do have a bus that goes to a neighborhood center or have centers that send vans to pick up students from school.

Immersion is also an idea, although making that decision is sort of a long-term commitment. I wouldn't choose immersion just to get my son to a different school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I was wondering if any parents had success with transferring their child from their zoned home school to another home school in Montgomery County. I am very concerned about the elementary school my child is supposed to attend. It also does not have an after school program like Kidsco and he would need to go to one of those programs as both parent work. I would like to send him to another elementary school but I'm hearing that childcare is not enough of a reason to transfer school; however some parents have been successful. I'm wondering if anyone had any advice about this.

A neighbor was able to transfer from home school b/c the child needed to have physical therapy twice a week which was close to the desired school. Another person's COSA was accepted b/c the child care provider (a family member) did not drive so they were allowed to be at that person's home school.
As I understand it, it really depends on the numbers for the school. An already overcrowded school is less likely to accept a COSA for child care reasons only.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Your best shot, for transferring in elementary school, is to try to get into an immersion program. If you don't care whether it's French or Spanish, by all means apply to both because the lotteries have lots of applicants and you are not guaranteed a slot. The normal entrance year is K, but the programs will also take a few kids for 1st grade (but not after 1st grade unless your kid already knows the language somewhat).

And try to ignore the hostile posts that will inevitably follow, questioning your motives and calling you a racist.

You're dripping with paranoia

[Anonymous]

does anyone have further advice on how to make this work. We will claim a hardship but it's so specific to our family's situation that I'd rather not go into it here.

Also, I know that the COSA window is from now until April 1st, but am wondering when parents re notified of the decision. TIA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Change of School Assignment was approved. I chose "hardship" and explained that my son had been in day care in the school that I wanted him changed to, and my relatives, who took care of him on non-day care days, lived very close to that school (however they were not in that school's assignment area). For my son to attend our home school, we would have had to find before and after care every day, and we just couldn't afford that, plus my son had a bond with the new school already. I don't know which point was the strongest, but it was approved. He is in kindergarten, so this is very recent.

My sister-in-law also had her kids' assignment changed to the school that went along with my in-laws address, because they were her before and after care. So day care CAN be a legitimate reason. I would not mention that the home school is not "good" because let's face it, I'm sure if that was a good enough reason, most parents would want their kids out, especially if your home school is Title I. I would stress the logistics--I know other parents have had their assignments changed based on where they work, as well.

What is the argument for assignment change based on where parents work? Do you say I'll keep my child sit with me until we go home?

[Anonymous]

do a search on this forum for COSA or change of school assignment. People will suggest immersion, but I will tell you (and I applied for and received a COSA) that the biggest factor is the school you want to transfer to. Does it have space and is the principal agreeable to transfers. Our COSA was based primarily on childcare--my kids attend the school that correlates with their grandparents' address, which is where they go before and after school.

[Anonymous]

re: question about length of time. I think the paperwork tells you when you should hear. And you may need to appeal if you get turned down the first time. We won on appeal.

Provide as much detailed information as you can that supports your case. Do not hold anything back.

[Anonymous]

a strange case, a family at our school transferred because their child was being bullied at their homeschool

[Anonymous]

MCPS teacher here (on maternity leave and the kid is asleep, so what else would I be doing with my spare time)... I can tell you that the "rules" for COSA approvals are very strange and it's pretty much a crapshoot. It all depends on which schools are involved, much more so than your actual reasons. For example (and this is not my only experience with COSAs, but the one I always think of), a few years ago, back when the budget first started to see major cuts and class size was increased (maybe 2009?), I taught part-time at a school that was on the verge of losing a classroom. We were one student over the amount needed to warrant this extra class in a particular grade, meaning if we had one less student in that grade, we would have an allocation for only two classes instead of three. Our principal warned the staff that one student in that grade had applied for a COSA to move another school, and if the allocation information was given to the "decision makers," it would be granted.

Guess what happened... I say, make the best case you can, but chances are whether or not you are approved has pretty much nothing to do with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:re: question about length of time. I think the paperwork tells you when you should hear. And you may need to appeal if you get turned down the first time. We won on appeal.

Provide as much detailed information as you can that supports your case. Do not hold anything back.

We applied this year - the paperwork says notifications come in May, and that appeals will be addressed before the start of the subsequent school year. Fingers crossed!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a strange case, a family at our school transferred because their child was being bullied at their homeschool

My child was bullied so badly we had to get the police involved and we were still denied a transfer.

[Anonymous]

I have also heard that most requests are denied the first time and you will have to appeal. I don't know if this is true, but if you are denied the first time don't give up.

I agree with the teacher who posted, I think that it can have to do with numbers. A friend of my DDs was approved for COSA, and I think numbers had to do with it. If he wasn't approved they were close to losing a K position. That year another student got approved for early entry. I think they were playing the numbers game, increasing the numbers to assure that they would keep 3 classrooms. Who knows if it is true or not?