House Bill on school transfers option based on space availability

Special to the Journal

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 determine available classroom space after all assigned students have been enrolled.

In accordance with the law, the Houston County School System created a process for parents to exercise this school transfer option and a process to determine space availability.  Information about HB251 is posted to the system website, www.hcbe.net, to include the implementation procedures, preliminary list of schools with available classroom space and an application to request a transfer.

Because HB251 exempts schools open for less than four years, Veterans High School is exempt. Currently there are openings at eight elementary schools – Bonaire, Kings Chapel, Lindsey, Linwood, Miller, Northside, Quail Run and Pearl Stephens – and five middle schools – Huntington, Mossy Creek, Perry, Thomson and Warner Robins. The openings are grade specific. All high schools are at capacity.

Parents who desire to request a school transfer may print a “2013-2014 Application to Request Public School Transfer” from the Web site or pick up a form from any school.  Applications will be accepted Aug. 1 – 20. Applications must be postmarked by Aug. 20. A computer-generated lottery will be used to approve or deny transfer requests in the event applications exceed a school’s space availability. Families that request a transfer will be notified of approval or denial by Aug. 23.

Houston County bases 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 10th day of school – Aug. 14 – enrollment.

This allows time for a truer enrollment number at each school based on new students and “no shows.”

All students are to begin the school year at their home zoned school. Approved transfers will be effective no earlier than Aug. 30 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, Cindy Flesher. 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 Flesher at Cynthia.Flesher@hcbe.net or 478-218-7512.

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