Forum Index
»
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Attending an "out of boundary school" due to family hardship?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I'm a single mom with 2 kids, a 3rd grade girl and a toddler boy. We live within boundaries for, and I send my oldest child to, a very desirable MCPS school. I mention its desirability only because I think they probably get a lot of requests to transfer in. I've been very happy with the school, and my child is happy and learning there too. It is a school that is quite over crowded.
A close family friend is very ill, and her children need an emergency place to stay. I would like to offer to be that home, but realistically, I can't have 4 children, with the two oldest being unrelated and of the opposite sex, in our small 2 bedroom apartment. Unfortunately, the neighborhood where I live is too expensive for me to afford anything bigger. There is one building that might work, but it has a long waiting list. However, there are plenty of affordable 3 and 4 BR places a block or two over the line into the next school zone, one that gets less love here, but where I'd be happy to send my kid if it weren't for the fact that I don't want to put her through too may changes at once. My question is, does anyone know how likely it would be that we'd be able to get a "hardship" exception to allow her to stay in the current school until she graduates in 2 years? School for my friends kids wouldn't be a issue, as they'll stay in their previous school, and when my little one is old enough for Kindergarten, I would be happy for him to go to the school in the new neighborhood. If we got a hardship exception, could she walk to a bus stop "in bounds"? Alternatively, my mom lives in bounds for her current school, what do people think about the ethics of using Grandma's address for 2 years? |
Anonymous
|
I just was briefed on this topic as out of boundary transfers, especially in the Bethesda-area schools (due to severe overcrowding) is a hot topic right now. I think these transfers are going to start to be more closely examined due to the budget problems.
With that said, I believe that once a student is in a school that it is very hard to kick them out. I'd talk to your Principal to get more information. They know more than we think they know so I wouldn't falsify information. |
Anonymous
I did email the principal who told me that the decision would be made by the central office, and that it's not something school personnel has a say in, I need to talk to the central office, which I will of course do, but I don't know if I can apply for a firm decision until after we move. |
Anonymous
|
One less desirable option could be try to stick to your current place until the beginning of the next school year. Then if you move in September you can keep your older child in the current school during fourth grade. Of course, this does not solve the fifth grade problem.
|
Anonymous
Yes, the Principal is correct --obviously, they always are  --that they do not have say in the matter. But I was thinking he/she could walk you through what your options are. Good Luck!
|
Anonymous
|
Hardships aren't easy to prove these days. And I don't think they'd count your case as a hardship. It doesn't fit in with any of the things that they list on their form. We did manage to win a hardship, for a different circumstance, but we were first rejected and then had to appeal.
Decisions really were made by central office. Neither school had any say). |
Anonymous
|
What does your daughter do for after school care? I ask bc I know of a family that is (and has been for years) approved for out of boundary transfer into a very desirable MoCo school district, the reason being that the out of boundary school is close to the mother's workplace so the child is able to go there after school (instead of being home alone or in after care). Could anything like that help your case?
You sound like a wonderful person to take in these children, btw. I am sure that your friend so appreciates what you are doing, and it is probably life changing for the kids. |
Anonymous
I don't think I could use that. She attends the aftercare at her current school, but I assume that the other school has after care too. If they don't consider moving schools to be a "hardship" on a kid, then I can't imagine that moving aftercare would be considered one. |
Anonymous
|
s/o question: are hardship transfers easier to get if you're trying to move to a school that is not "highly desirable"? We'll be hoping to move from our school (poor test scores but not overcrowded) to a better school (but not 'top tear') near DSs day care. I don't believe the school we're looking to get into is overcrowded, and it's not one of the schools that everyone talks about (e.g. not in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, etc).
Am I fooling myself to think the hardship transfer will be easier to get than it some others? |
Anonymous
|
Last year I could not get a transfer for an out-of-boundary school (less desirable to less desirable, not Bethesda) after bullying so bad I had to get the police involved. Luckily, the bully left the school (somehow managed to transfer to a Bethesda school; no clue how that one worked).
OP, what a wonderful friend you are! |
Anonymous
| My grandson who is now in 4th has lived with us all his life. My husband grandson and I lived in MC When he stared kindergarten he was not allowed into MC. had to go to privative Because his mom has custody lived in PG she could not afford to keep him. It was not not consider hardship. Over the summer my daughter and husband went around and around with the school board. Came down to the wire hubby called Maryland State Senator Office. I kid you not he was in school system with under a hour. We had to reply again the next year,but no problem. |
Anonymous
|
PP Sorry lot of mistakes
|
Anonymous
| A family at our school transferred from their home school because of a bullying issue. It has been done before, it is possible. |