1. Proposed Policy Changes
Johnny Giles
Chief of Staff
August 19, 2015

2. Policy 6.1.2 Admission to Schools Policy 6.3.1 Transfers (Students)
Clarification of HCS Policies is Required to Ensure Compliance with the Court Order when Assigning Students to School Zone Under Certain Circumstances.
Policy Admission to Schools
Policy Transfers (Students)
A Summary of Proposed Changes is on the Following Slides. Actual Text will be Posted to eBoards.

3. Revised Policy 6. 1. 2 Covers Admission to Schools
Revised Policy Covers Admission to Schools. Only Changes are Listed
i. Building – If a new residence is under construction, provisional enrollment for students who will be living in that home may be granted
Parent or legal guardian who has primary physical custody must demonstrate move to the new residence will occur within the school year. 
Signed construction contract and an affidavit signed by the builder or lending agency that the house will be available for occupancy within the school year. 
Failure to occupy the new residence w/in school year will result in the student being reassigned to school serving the residence of parent/legal guardian
j. Moving 
1. If a student’s parent or legal guardian who has primary physical custody moves to a new residence during the school year, the student may complete the school year at his or her currently enrolled school prior to transferring to the school serving the address to which the student is moving.

4. Revised Policy 6.1.2 (Continued)
2. In order for a student to begin attending the school that will serve the student’s new address, the parent or legal guardian must register the student at the school serving the new address. 
Student will be registered if the parent or guardian provides the school serving the new residence the following information: 
Authentic copies of the sales contract or lease agreement for the new residence and
Evidence of an actual move to the new residence, such as documents demonstrating the payment of utility bills or moving expenses.
3. If the term of the lease for the new residence ends during the academic calendar (traditionally between August and May), the student may continue at the school serving the new residence until the end of the year. 

5. Revised Policy 6.1.2 (Continued)
k. Annual Address Verification – Annually, Huntsville City Schools may request residency verification for all HCS students.
This process will require parents/guardians to present documents establishing the residence of their students, such as documents demonstrating payment of utility bills.
Students found to be attending a school outside of their home zoned school during this process will be allowed to remain at the school currently enrolled, but will be required to move to the school serving their residence for the next school year. 
l. Foreign Exchange Students – Foreign exchange students attend the school for which their host family’s residence is zoned.

6. Revised Policy 6.3.1 Covers Student Transfers. Only Changes are Listed
6.3.1 (Addition)
Space availability will be determined using the school’s transfer capacity.
6.3.1.a Majority to Minority (Change)
School Cluster” changed to “Feeder Pattern”
Addition: Those students transferring for the and subsequent school years will be subject to a priority system as follows:
6.3.1.a.1 (Change)
Upon completion of the highest grade at the transferee school, the student may apply for a Majority-to-Minority transfer to attend the next school in the feeder pattern of the school to which the student had previously been granted a Majority-to-Minority transfer.
6.3.1.b Senior Privilege (Deleted)
6.3.1.b Late Majority to Minority (New)
From January 15 to July 15 of each year, students may apply for a Late Majority-to-Minority transfer. Late Majority-to-Minority transfers are processed on a first come, first served basis and are not part of the lottery process described above. Late Majority-to-Minority transfers have the same duration as normal Majority-to-Minority transfers. During the January 15 to July 15 window, HCS may grant other transfers as permitted by HCS policy where space remains available after processing all Majority-to-Minority and Late Majority-to-Minority transfers received by the time the non-Majority-to-Minority transfer is processed.

7. Revised Policy 6.3.1 Covers Student Transfers. Only Changes are Listed
6.3.1.c Dependents of School Personnel (Change)
Employees of the Huntsville City Schools may apply for their dependents to attend a school in the high school feeder pattern in which the parent is employed. HCS will set an application window for these transfers each year. These transfers will only be granted if space remains in a school after processing all of the Majority-to-Minority transfers to that school. In the event that more students apply for a school than space remains available, HCS will conduct a lottery, which may include a priority system, to fill available spots. All applications must be submitted during the application window unless the employee is hired at a later date.
6.3.1.e Sibling of Special Education Students (Change)
Parents/guardians may apply to transfer their students to the school serving the Special Education Individual Education Program (“IEP”) of another of their students if the special education student’s IEP requires placement in a self-contained classroom at a particular school. These transfers will only be granted if space remains in the school after processing all of the Majority-to-Minority transfers to that school.

8. Revised Policy 6.3.1 Covers Student Transfers. Only Changes are Listed
6.3.1.f Other (Change)
In rare and exceptional circumstances, the Superintendent may approve Transfers for other reasons.
6.3.1.g Duration (Change)
Students transferring to a school as provided in c. through f. above will be assigned to their transfer school for the duration of the school year. HCS may require all students provided transfers under c. through f. above to reapply for their transfer each year. Only in exceptional circumstances as determined by the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent will consideration be given for the student to transfer to a different school during the school year if a transfer has already been given for or within that year.