New Law Gives Option to Request School Transfer
Based on Space Availability
Implementation Procedures, Preliminary Classroom Availability, and Application To Request Transfer
The 2009 Georgia General Assembly approved House Bill 251 (HB251), giving parents/guardians the option to request that their children attend any school within the school system based on space availability. School districts are to determine available classroom space after all assigned students have been enrolled.
In accordance with the law, the Houston County School System has created a process for parents to exercise this school transfer option and a process to determine space availability. The school system will notify parents about House Bill 251 by telephone using an automated communication system. The information will also be posted to the system Web site, www.hcbe.net, to include the implementation procedures, preliminary list of schools with available classroom space, and an application to request a transfer. In addition, an annoucement will be posted to the television public access channels, Cox Communications channel 17 and ComSouth channel 10.
Houston County is basing availability on 80 percent capacity in classrooms. A preliminary list of schools that currently have available classroom space has been prepared. This list may change. The list of schools with classroom space available will be finalized based on the tenth day of school (August 17) enrollment. This allows time for a truer enrollment number at each school based on new students and “no shows.”
HB251 exempts schools open for less than four years. In Houston County, this exempts: Hilltop Elementary, Lake Joy Elementary and Mossy Creek Middle.
Parents who desire to request a school transfer may print a “2009-2010 Application to Request Public School Transfer” from the Web site or pick up a form from any school. Applications will be accepted August 4 through 21. Applications must be postmarked by August 21, 2009. A computer-generated lottery will be used to approve or deny transfer requests in the event applications exceed a school’s space availability. Families who request a transfer will be notified of approval or denial by August 28, 2009.
All students are to begin the school year at their home zoned school. Approved transfers will be effective no earlier than August 31, 2009, following notification. Parents who transfer their children under HB251 are required by law to assume all costs and responsibilities related to the transportation of the student to and from school as long as the child remains at that school.
Applications for transfer must be mailed to the Assistant Superintendent for School Operations, Dr. Robin Hines. The address is: Houston County Board of Education, P.O. Box 1850, Perry, GA, 31069. Schools are not accepting these applications. For more information, contact Dr. Hines at robin.hines@hcbe.net or (478) 218-7512.
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