The Cobb County School District (District) provides limited opportunities for Cobb County students to attend schools outside the attendance zone in which they live. Though some of these opportunities result from a student’s attendance at a magnet school, many result from family situations, including moves that occur during the school year.

RULE:

Students requesting a hardship transfer from one attendance zone to another within the Cobb County School District shall apply for such transfer to the Policy, Planning and Student Support Division (Policy and Planning) (Form JFABC-1). The request shall fully explain the reasons for the request. Parents/guardians and schools will be notified that the request for transfer has been approved or denied.

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS:
    1. Approved transfers are valid for the current school year in which issued.
    2. In addition to the conditions discussed in Item 4, below, acceptable behavior,
        attendance and a co-operative/productive relationship between home and school
        must be maintained in order for transfers to remain valid. Students of employees on
        transfer must meet the same behavior and attendance requirements of other
        students on transfer.
    3. Transfer requests may be approved for extreme hardships. For the purposes of
        student transfers, a “hardship” is defined as an event or situation in which Policy and
        Planning, in consultation with the appropriate Area Assistant Superintendent,
        determines that a student’s transfer to another school is warranted. Such a request
        must be authenticated.
        Examples of authentication include recommendations of a Licensed Health Care
        Provider, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, or school administrators.
        Parental issues concerning childcare and transportation may also be taken into
        consideration.
    4. Transfer requests may be denied or revoked based on one or more of the following
        reasons:
        a. Lack of available permanent classroom space in the school to which the student
            requested a transfer;
        b. Excessive absences, tardies, or late pick-ups of the student;
        c. Behavior;
        d. Insufficient reasons to warrant the move (disagreement with school administration
            or staff is not sufficient reason for a transfer to be granted);
        e. Falsification of records;
        f. Other just cause.
    5. A transfer request may be approved if:
        a. The school in whose attendance zone the requesting student resides does not
            have available permanent classroom space in which the student can attend class;
        b. The student is assigned to non-permanent classroom facilities for instruction;
            and/or
        c. The school to which the student requests a transfer has permanent classroom
            available.
    6. Transportation for students on transfer, including children of employees, must be
        provided by the parent/guardian.

B. MOVES OUT OF DISTRICT:
    1. Semester Completion: Any student enrolled in grades kindergarten through eleven
        who ceases to be a resident of the District after attending a school shall be allowed
        to apply for a transfer to complete that semester in that school (Form JFABC-2).
    2. Twelfth-Graders: Any high school student who the school identifies as a senior who
        ceases to be a resident of the District shall be allowed to apply for a transfer to
        complete the school year provided:
        a. The student lives within commuting distance;
        b. The student has established the parental/custodial relationship between
            himself/herself and the person with whom he/she resides.
        c. The parent/guardian submits to the principal or designee a notarized statement
            explaining the facts of the situation including the date of the move;
        d. The move is verified as have occurred after the student completed his/her junior
            year in that school. Verification shall be established as dated documents of
            the new address; and
        e. The parent/guardian submits a completed transfer form (Form JFABC-1).
    3. Performance Eligibility: For a high school student described in this section the
        student will maintain performance eligibility if all other eligibility requirements are
        met.
    4. EXPECTATIONS:
        a. The parent/guardian must promptly report to the principal or designee any change
            in circumstances by which the student is no longer a resident of the District.
        b. Acceptable behavior and attendance are required in order for the student to
            remain on transfer.
        c. The parent is also expected to maintain a cordial working relationship with school
            personnel.
        d. Failure to comply with the provisions of this paragraph shall authorize the principal
            to immediately withdraw such student.
    5. Transportation for students on transfer must be provided by the parent/guardian.

C. MOVES INSIDE THE DISTRICT:
    1. Should the parent(s) or guardian of a student enrolled in the District move from one
        attendance zone to another within the District, the parent/guardian may apply for a
        transfer for their student to remain enrolled in his/her current school until he/she
        completes the semester in which the move occurred (Form JFABC-2).
    2. Twelfth-Graders: Any high school student who the school identifies as a senior who
        ceases to be a resident of the District shall be allowed to apply for a transfer to
        complete the school year provided:
        a. The student lives within commuting distance;
        b. The student has established the parental/custodial relationship between
            himself/herself and the person with whom he/she resides.
        c. The parent/guardian submits to the principal or designee a notarized
            statement explaining the facts of the situation including the date of the
            move;
        d. The move is verified have occurred after the student completed
            his/her junior year in that school. Verification shall be established as
            dated documents of the new address; and
        e. The parent/guardian submits a completed transfer form (Form JFABC-1).
    3. Performance Eligibility: For a high school student described in this section and
        approved for continued enrollment in his/her current school, he/she shall maintain
        performance eligibility if he/she meets all other eligibility requirements.
    4. Expectations: Acceptable behavior, good home/school relationship and attendance
        are required in order for the student to remain on transfer.
    5. Transportation for students on transfer must be provided by the parent/guardian.

D. STUDENTS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT:
    1. The District does not accept tuition students.
    2. Children of employees may be accepted from outside the District under the provisions
        of Administrative Rule JCAC (Admissions/Withdrawals: Children of Employees).

E. STUDENTS WHO BECOME A VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME:
Any student who is the victim of a violent criminal offense that occurs on the property of a school in which the student is enrolled, while attending a school sponsored event that occurs on the property of the school, or while attending an event under the jurisdiction of the school shall be permitted to attend a school that has not been designated as an unsafe school pursuant to State Board Rule 160-4-8-.16, including a charter school. Students requesting such a transfer should complete Form JFABC-1 and attach all relevant documentation.

An event that is under the jurisdiction of the school includes an event that is sponsored by the school if the school has direct control or authority over the event, even if the event occurs away from school property. School property may include any building, land, school bus, or other vehicular equipment owned or leased by the District.

A student is “a victim of a violent criminal offense” if:
1. A violent criminal offense has been committed against the student, which includes the following offenses:
    a. Aggravated battery (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-24),
    b. Aggravated child molestation (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-4),
    c. Aggravated sexual battery (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22.2)
    d. Aggravated sodomy (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-2),
    e. Armed robbery (O.C.G.A. § 16-8-41),
    f. First degree arson (O.C.G.A. § 16-7-60),
    g. Felony drug charge (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-32.4),
    h. Felony weapons charge (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127.1),
    i. Kidnapping (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-40),
    j. Murder (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-1),
    k. Rape (O.C.G.A. § 16-6-1),
    l. Voluntary manslaughter (O.C.G.A. § 16-5-2), or
    m. Terroristic threats (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-37).

AND

2. The perpetrator of the violent criminal offense has been found by to be in violation of the appropriate Student Code of Conduct (Administrative Rules JICDA-E, JICDA-M, or JICDA-H) by virtue of an official tribunal/disciplinary hearing held by the District; through a waiver of disciplinary hearing process; or through an action of the Cobb County Board of Education.

The transfer shall occur within ten school days of the commission of the violent criminal offense, and to the extent possible, shall allow victims to transfer to a school that is making adequate yearly progress and has not been identified as being in school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. (See State Board of Education Rule 160-4-8-.16, Unsafe School Choice Option, for more information)

F. INTERDISTRICT REASSIGNMENT:
A student whose place of residence is in another school district may be reassigned to a school in the Cobb County School District or a student whose place of residence is in the Cobb County School District may be reassigned to a school in another school district.

    1. Conditions:
        All the following conditions must be met:
        a. The school in another school district is closer to the student's place of residence
            than the school to which the student has been assigned.
        b. The actual transportation time or distance on a bus one way to the school where
            the student has been assigned is determined to be excessive in terms of travel
            time or distance. Excessive travel time and distance are defined as:
            (1) The actual transportation time one way (on a school bus) to the school where
                 the student has been assigned takes forty-five (45) minutes longer than the
                 transportation time (on a school bus) to the closer school where the student
                 wants to re reassigned; or
            (2) The actual transportation distance one way (via the school bus route) to the
                 school where the student has been assigned is at least fifteen (15) miles
                 farther than the distance to the closer school where the student wants to be
                 reassigned.
             (3) The school to which the student is requesting reassignment is offering an
                  instructional program comparable to that offered in the school where the
                  student was originally assigned.
             (4) The school in the other school system to which the student is requesting
                  reassignment has available permanent classroom space.
             (5) Both boards of education agree to the reassignment.
             (6) If a reassignment is granted, the parent or guardian is responsible for
                  transporting the student.
    2. Application for Reassignment:
       a. The parent or guardian of a student eligible to request reassignment shall submit a
           written request each year to the local board of education for the school where the
           student wishes to be reassigned and to the local board of education where the
           student resides no later than seven (7) calendar days following the publication of
           attendance zones.
           (1) The Cobb County Board of Education shall publish its attendance zones no later
                than August 1 each school year.
           (2) Applications to the Cobb County Board of Education shall be filed in the Office
                of the Superintendent.
       b. If granted, the duration of the reassignment shall be for no more that one (1)
          school year.
       c. The request for reassignment must be submitted each year within the required time
           period.
       d. The District shall respond in writing to the requesting parent or guardian within
           thirty (30) days of receipt of the request for reassignment.
    3. Appeal:
        a. If the request is denied, the parent or guardian may appeal the decision(s).
        b. Such appeal shall comply with the procedures of O.C.G.A. & 20-2-1160, and State
            Board of Education Rule 160-1-3-.04, School Law Tribunals and Appeals.

Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Revised: 10/28/04; 8/10/05; 5/25/06