Voluntary Transfers

Elementary Voluntary Transfer Information

In general, voluntary transfer requests are not permitted. Please see the Elementary Voluntary Transfer form for qualifying exceptions.

• The deadline for submitting voluntary school transfer requests for the following school year is March 1^st.
• Voluntary school transfer requests received after March 1^st will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and approval will be based on the exceptions noted on the Elementary Voluntary Transfer form.
• Voluntary school transfers are requests from parents for their student(s) to attend a school other than their designated home attendance area school.
• The voluntary school transfer process will be reviewed every time attendance areas are modified.
• The Voluntary Transfer form is not intended for families wishing to Open Enroll into the Iowa City Community School District while residing in a different district. Please visit www.iowacityschools.org or call the District’s Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000 for more information.
• The Voluntary Transfer form is not intended for families who are homeless. Please visit www.iowacityschools.org or call the District’s Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000 for more information.
• Voluntary school transfer requests are required at the elementary level on an annual basis.
• Voluntary school transfer requests must be filled out for each student requesting a transfer.
• Voluntary school transfer request forms can be found on the District website at www.iowacityschools.org/voluntarytransfers or at any school.
• Students do not have a guarantee to keep the voluntary school transfer beyond one year (unless notified otherwise).
• Students are not guaranteed any subsequent junior high school voluntary school transfers.
• Families are required to provide their own transportation for the student(s) when voluntarily transferring.

All Voluntary School Transfers Are Subject to Cancellation Upon:

• Changes to District voluntary school transfer request policies.
• Changes to boundaries/attendance areas.
• Change in student transportation needs.
• Failure of the student to maintain adequate attendance.
• Verification that voluntary school transfer request information provided was inaccurate or incomplete.

Secondary Voluntary Transfer Information

In general, voluntary transfer requests are not permitted. Please see the Secondary Voluntary Transfer form for qualifying exceptions.

• The deadline for submitting voluntary school transfer requests for the following school year is March 1^st.
• Voluntary school transfer requests received after March 1^st will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and approval will be based on the exceptions noted on the Secondary Voluntary Transfer form.
• Voluntary school transfers are requests from parents for their student(s) to attend a school other than their designated home attendance area school.
• The voluntary school transfer process will be reviewed every time attendance areas are modified.
• The Voluntary Transfer form is not intended for families wishing to Open Enroll into the Iowa City Community School District while residing in a different district. Please visit www.iowacityschools.org or call the District’s Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000 for more information.
• The Voluntary Transfer form is not intended for families who are homeless. Please visit www.iowacityschools.org or call the District’s Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000 for more information.
• Voluntary school transfer requests must be filled out for each student requesting a transfer.
• Voluntary school transfer request forms can be found on the District website at www.iowacityschools.org/voluntarytransfers or at any school.
• Families are required to provide their own transportation for the student(s) when voluntarily transferring.
• The procedures/guidelines for Varsity Athletics and Voluntary Transfer Requests do still apply.

All Voluntary School Transfers Are Subject to Cancellation Upon:

• Changes to District voluntary school transfer request policies.
• Changes to boundaries/attendance areas.
• Change in student transportation needs.
• Failure of the student to maintain adequate attendance.
• Verification that voluntary school transfer request information provided was inaccurate or incomplete.

Voluntary Transfer Rule for Athletic Eligibility

The District shall not allow any Voluntary Transfer student to compete until such time as the school has reasonably reliable proof that the student is eligible to compete for the member or associate member school under these rules.

• A student who Voluntary Transfers between schools in the Iowa City Community School District (District) shall be ineligible to compete in interscholastic athletics for a period of 90 consecutive school days, as defined in rule 281—12.1(256) of Iowa Administrative Code, exclusive of summer enrollment, unless one of the exceptions listed below applies.
• The period of ineligibility applies only to varsity level contests and competitions.
• "Varsity" means the highest level of competition offered by one school or school district against the highest level of competition offered by an opposing school or school district.
• This period of ineligibility does not apply if the student:
• Moves into our school district and immediately applies for a transfer to establish residency at that school, grades 9-12.
• Is entering grade 9 for the first time and did not participate in an interscholastic athletic competition for another school during the summer immediately following eighth grade.
• Participates in an athletic activity in the new school that is not available in the school of residence.
• Participates in an athletic activity for which the schools have a cooperative student participation agreement pursuant to rule 36.20(280)
• Participates in Voluntary Transfer and whose parents/guardians move out of their school of residence but exercise either the option of remaining in the original Voluntary Transfer school or enrolling in the new school of residence. If the pupil has established athletic eligibility under Voluntary Transfer, it is continued despite the parent’s or guardian’s change in residence.
• Participates in Voluntary Transfer, but utilizes Voluntary Transfer to remain in the Voluntary Transfer school following a change of residence of the student’s parent(s). If the pupil has established athletic eligibility, it is continued despite the parent’s or guardian’s change in residence.
• Participates in Voluntary Transfer and whose parents/guardian is an active member of the armed forces and resides in permanent housing on government property provided by a branch of the armed services.
• Voluntary Transfers from a school of residence that has determined that the student was previously subject to a founded incident of harassment or bullying as defined in Iowa Code section 280.28 while attending school of residence.

References

Iowa Administrative Code Section 281 Chapter 36

• 36.15(280) Eligibility requirements.

• 36.15(1) Local eligibility and student conduct rules.
• 36.15(3) General transfer rule.
• 36.15(4) Open enrollment transfer rule.