Schools Frozen to Transfers 2008-2009

Superintendent Pat Forgione has advised the Board of Trustees and the community that 30 schools will be completely frozen to student transfers in the 2008-2009 school year, and another three campuses at which transfers to certain grades will be frozen. The 33 affected campuses are Anderson, Austin, Bowie and McCallum high schools; Bailey, Bedichek, Burnet, Kealing, Mendez, Murchison, and Small middle schools; also, Baranoff, Barrington, Bryker Woods (except grades 2 and 6), Casis, Clayton, Cook, Doss (except grade 2), Harris, Hart, Hill (except grades 2 and 3), Houston, Langford, Lee, Linder, Mathews, Mills, Odom, Perez, Rodriguez, Walnut Creek, Widen, and Wooldridge elementary schools.

Dr. Forgione also advised that enrollment at seven additional campuses will be closely monitored, and may be frozen, after priority transfers are approved. These seven campuses are Akins High School; Fulmore and Paredes middle schools; Graham, Oak Hill, Pickle and Wooten elementary schools.

Priority transfers

Priority transfers, if submitted by February 15, will be approved to both frozen and non-frozen schools. Priority transfers are not based on first come-first served basis to a frozen school. Also, it is not necessary to stand in line on Saturday, February 2, to submit a priority transfer.

The three categories for priority transfers are sibling, tracking and majority-to-minority. Below is a brief description of each category.

Sibling Transfer - A sibling transfer can be made for siblings of students who are, or will be, attending the requested school at the same time on an approved transfer. Sibling transfers will be granted if the request is submitted by the priority deadline. After the priority deadline, the transfer shall be allowed if space and staff are available. To receive priority consideration for a sibling transfer, the request must be received no later than the tenth school day after the first Saturday in February of the prior school year. NOTE: A transfer request must be submitted for EACH sibling affected.

Tracking Transfer - Students who have transferred to another school and who have a history of at least two unbroken years of attendance in the two highest grades offered at the school, may request a tracking transfer to the next level (i.e., to a middle school from an elementary school or to a high school from a middle school) in order to remain with their peers. Tracking transfers will be granted if the request is submitted by the priority deadline. After the priority deadline, the transfer shall be allowed if space and staff are available. To receive priority consideration for a tracking transfer, the request must be received no later than the tenth school day after the first Saturday in February of the prior school year. NOTE: This provision does not apply to a student who has moved who wishes to seek a transfer back to the same school. This would be a considered a general transfer.

Majority-to-Minority Transfer - Students may transfer from a school where the student's ethnic group is over 50 percent of the school's population to a school where the student's ethnic group is under 50 percent of the school's population. The purpose of the majority-to-minority transfer is to complement the District's student assignments and promote diversity throughout the District. Majority-to-minority transfers will be granted if the request is submitted by the priority deadline. After the priority deadline, the transfer shall be allowed if space and staff are available. To receive priority consideration for a majority-to-minority transfer, the request must be received no later than the tenth school day after the first Saturday in February of the prior school year. For the purposes of majority-to-minority transfers, two ethnic groups are defined:

• Black (and not of Hispanic origin) and Hispanic students.
• American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander and White (and not of Hispanic origin) students.

Attached is a listing showing the ethnic status of each campus.

THE TRANSFER REQUEST PROCESS

The parent should:

• Secure a Transfer Request Form:  A transfer request form may be obtained at your child's school or from the Office of Student Services at 1111 West 6th Street, Austin, TX, 78703 (414-1726).  If your school is closed during a summer month, this office should be contacted for a form.
• Complete All Required Information:  The request must include the student’s name, address, date of birth, ethnicity, grade level for the year for which the transfer is being requested, desired school, and parents’ home and work phone numbers. The type of transfer being requested also must be indicated.
• Submit Form:  Submit form to the Office of Student Services at 1111 West 6th Street, Austin, Texas  78703-5399. See the section below for dates and deadlines for priority transfers, general transfers in the fall and general transfers in the spring.

DATES AND DEADLINES FOR 2008-2009

PRIORITY IN PROCESSING REQUESTS

• Eligible priority requests will be processed first and granted on a space available basis after the priority deadline. All other requests for the fall semester will be processed on a first come, first-served, space available basis immediately after the processing of priority requests.
• Requests for the spring semester will be processed on a first come-first served, space available basis after November 15.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Approval/Denial Process:  Initial processing of requests will be done by computer and letters will be sent to the parents. When a request is not approved, an appeal may be made to the Associate Superintendent who has the responsibility for the requested school.  A final appeal may be made to the Superintendent and, if needed, a petition may be made to the Board of Trustees in accordance with state law.

Transfer Revocation:  Parents and students must assume responsibility for satisfactory academic progress, attendance, discipline and cooperation with the school staff while at the transfer school.  The transfer may be revoked by the principal if the responsibilities stated above are not met. If a transfer is revoked, a student may not at anytime request a transfer back to the same school.

Transportation:  Transportation is not provided to students on a transfer except for students attending magnet programs at Fulmore, Kealing, and LBJ.

THE TRANSFER POLICY (FDB (L))
(Approved by the AISD Board of Trustees December 13, 2004)
(Due to change January 23, 2006)

View AISD Transfer Policy Online

OTHER INFORMATION

PUBLIC EDUCATION GRANT (PEG) TRANSFERS

A student enrolled in a school identified under the PEG program has the right to request a transfer to another school in his/her current district or in another district.  AISD students wanting transfers within the district should use the regular transfer request procedures.  Students outside of the district should address their requests to the Superintendent of Austin ISD.

AISD DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Austin Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or disability in its programs and activities.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Austin Independent School District’s Student Transfer Policy, please contact the Office of Student Services at 414-1726.

Rev. 1/10/06