FCPS - Open Enrollment?

[Anonymous]

At least that is what it's called where I'm from. Does anyone know if you can send your kid to a school different than your "home" school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least that is what it's called where I'm from. Does anyone know if you can send your kid to a school different than your "home" school?

You can pupil place under specific conditions under Regulation 2230; there is also the possibility of attending an alternate program such as language immersion or advanced academics.

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/8DAKQA51B3E8/$file/R2230.pdf

IV. EXCEPTIONS FOR REASONS OTHER THAN BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS
(TRANSPORTATION NOT PROVIDED)
A. Reasons for Exceptions
A student is expected to attend the school that serves his or her attendance area,
and every effort is made toward that end. However, if the school capacity, grade level
capacity, and the school curricular program at the requested school will permit,
a request for a student transfer by exception may be approved by the coordinator of
Student Registration. Requests must be made for the school closest to the student’s
residence that is not at capacity unless the specific reason for the transfer request
necessitates placement at another school. All student transfer approvals are for one
year only, and a new application must be submitted annually to extend the transfer.
In addition to availability in the requested school or program, based on the curricular
program and school capacity, one of the following conditions must exist:

1. Child Care Hardship (Elementary School Only)
The family demonstrates hardship in obtaining appropriate full-time before- and/or
after-school supervision within the boundaries of the school where the child
actually resides. Base school personnel shall verify child care provisions and the
location of such within the requested school boundaries or within the next closest
school boundary area if capacity issues preclude placement within the school
boundaries where the child care is provided. The Affidavit for Student Transfer
Child Care Requests, which can be accessed at
http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/kam/docmgmt/forms/se252.pdf, must be attached to
the student transfer application verifying the facts of the request and indicating
attempts the family has made to procure child care within the community of
residence.

2. Medical, Emotional, or Social Adjustment
The student demonstrates exceptional hardship for reasons of medical, emotional,
or social adjustment. Independent, detailed documentation substantiating the
circumstances (e.g., from physicians, psychologists, social workers, or counselors)
is required and must be attached to the student transfer application.

3. Child of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Employee
The parent or guardian is an FCPS employee who works more than 20 hours per
week, resides in Fairfax County, and is requesting a student transfer to the school
in which the parent or guardian is employed or to the school nearest the
employee’s work location. If the request for a student transfer is to the school in
which the parent or guardian is employed, in this instance only, capacity issues will
not prevent the transfer.

4. High School Curricular Program
The student intends to enroll and remain enrolled for the year in a sequential
curricular program from the Fairfax County Public Schools Standard Course
Offerings, which is not offered at the base high school. For example, applications
may be submitted for an exception for an Advanced Placement (AP) or an
International Baccalaureate (IB) program if the base school does not offer the
desired program of study. Student transfers can be requested to the school with
space available that is closest to the student’s residence. Parents or guardians
and students are required to sign a letter of understanding committing to the
requested program. Students are required to enroll in courses as outlined in the
letter of understanding. Renewal applications are required annually and must be
submitted by April 1. With the exception of students who move into the school
division, curricular transfers will not be accepted after April 15.

5. Kindergarten
A transfer for kindergarten student to a school with a full-day kindergarten
program will be granted only when the student’s base school has a full-day
kindergarten program. Requests must meet one of the reasons for exception
mentioned elsewhere in this regulation (e.g., family relocation, child care, or
adjustment). A child of an FCPS staff member who works at the requested
school or a child whose sibling living in the same household attends the
requested school can transfer into a full-day kindergarten program regardless of
whether his or her base school has a full- or half-day kindergarten program.

6. Siblings
Except as noted above, a request for a student transfer by exception may be
approved by the coordinator of Student Registration for a student whose sibling
living in the same household is enrolled in the requested school.

B. Family Relocation
1. A request for a student transfer by exception may be approved by the coordinator
of Student Registration if the family has moved from one school attendance area
to another during the school year or can demonstrate definite plans to do so
within 180 calendar days. Proof of purchase or rental must be provided with the
request for student transfer. The new residence must be the primary permanent
residence for the student and the student's family and be located within the
requested school boundaries. Additional documentation may be requested to
establish that the new residence is bona fide and that the family has abandoned
or will abandon any other property as its primary residence.

2. A request for a student transfer by exception may be approved if the family has
moved from one school attendance area to another within 60 calendar days of
the end of the school year but requests that the child be permitted to continue
attending his or her previously assigned school until completion of the school
year. A formal student transfer application is not required; however, the family
must provide proof of the new address to the principal of the school in which the
child is currently enrolled.

C. Senior Status
A request for student transfer by exception may be approved by the coordinator of
Student Registration for a student who is currently attending the requested school
and who will move to a different attendance area after the completion of the school
year but who wants to return to the same location to complete the final year of
elementary, middle, or high school. Capacity issues will not be a barrier to approval.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response! I have mostly been concerned with child care. Both children are with an in-home provider and the SACC list is 4+ yrs long at our elementary school. If DS1 can attend closer to where DS2 is in daycare, it would be preferred - I would love the boys to be together after school.