Voluntary Transfers

Elementary Voluntary Transfer Information

Elementary Voluntary School Transfer Information

• 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.
• This 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.
• This 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. 

In general, voluntary school transfer requests are not permitted at the elementary level.

• The following grandfathered exceptions will be considered:
  • “Good Cause” Transfers ­– A founded case of pervasive harassment or severe health may be considered good cause exceptions that allow students to attend their approved attendance area through completion of 5th grade.
• The following annual exceptions will be considered:
  • Capstone Transfers – 4th grade students will be allowed to attend their approved attendance area through the completion of 5th grade. Capstone Transfers will be approved in March of each year.
  • Socio-Economic Balance Transfers – Voluntary school transfers will be considered when they help the Board achieve the overall goal of increased socio-economic balance according to Appendix A. Socio-Economic Balance Transfers will be approved in March of each year. 

Please be aware of the following:

• Voluntary school transfer requests must be completed for each student requesting a transfer.
• Voluntary school transfer request forms can be found on the District website at www.iowacityschools.org/voluntarytransfers.
• Students do not have a guarantee to keep the voluntary school transfer beyond one year (unless noted above).
• Students are not guaranteed any subsequent junior high school voluntary transfers.
• Families are required to provide their own transportation for the student(s) when voluntarily transferring.
• The deadline for submitting voluntary school transfer requests for the following school year is March 1st.
• Voluntary school transfer requests received after March 1st will be processed on a first come, first served basis, and approval will be based on the exceptions noted above. 

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 the voluntary school transfer request information provided was inaccurate or incomplete. 

Please call the District’s Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000 for more information.

Appendix A – Socio-Economic Balance Transfers

The District may consider voluntary school transfers in situations where space is available, and it helps the Board achieve the overall goal of increased socio-economic balance. Socio-Economic Balance Transfers will be approved in March of each year.

• Measured by the percentage of students of low socio-economic status (SES) in each attendance area.
• Low SES is based on a student’s eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, direct certification from the state, or fee waiver.
• High SES will be assigned to all other students.
• The District will use the annual state-required October 1 Certified Enrollment numbers to determine the percentage of low SES students in each attendance area.
• Following the annual enrollment certification, the District will release a list of schools with a corresponding percentage of low SES students in each attendance area and the District average for low SES students.
• For the following school year, on a space-available basis, high SES students will be allowed to transfer to schools “Above the District Average” for low SES students.
• For the following school year, on a space-available basis, low SES students will be allowed to transfer to schools “Below the District Average” for low SES students.

Secondary Voluntary Transfer Information

Secondary Voluntary School Transfer Information

• 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.
• This 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.
• This 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.

Please be aware of the following:

• Voluntary school transfer requests must be completed for each student requesting a transfer.
• Voluntary school transfer request forms can be found on the District website at www.iowacityschools.org/voluntarytransfers or any school.
• Families are required to provide their own transportation for the student(s) when voluntarily transferring.
• The deadline for submitting voluntary school transfer requests for the following school year is March 1st.
• Voluntary school transfer requests received after March 1st will be processed on a first come, first served basis, and approval will be based on programming, staffing, and space available.
• Separate voluntary school transfer requests are not required for the middle school and high school levels.
• Students who have been provided elementary school level transfers are NOT guaranteed any subsequent middle school transfers.
• Students who have been provided middle school level transfer ARE guaranteed high school transfers. (into the feeder high school of that middle school)
• The General Transfer Rules for Extracurricular Interscholastic Competition apply to all voluntary school transfer requests and could include up to a 90-day varsity ineligibility period.
• Mid-year transfers are not permitted; if a good cause exception is made, the transfer will occur at the start of the next grading period.

In general, voluntary school transfer requests are not permitted at the secondary level. The following exceptions will be considered:

• Good Cause- Change in residence due to family move, change in marital status, foster care, adoption, or treatment program; A founded case of Bullying / Pervasive harassment.  
• Students in the Kirkwood Elementary and Alexander Elementary attendance areas will be allowed to transfer out of those attendance areas to Northwest/West High School and Southeast/City High School, respectively.
• Students included in the Forest View Relocation will be allowed to attend Southeast Middle School and City High, respectively.

All Voluntary School Transfers Are Subject to Cancellation Upon:

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

Please call the District’s Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000 for more information.

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.