School Choice: Transfers Within the District

Pursuant to Education Code 35160.5 which mandates that all school districts throughout California offer parents an opportunity to select the district school their child will attend, as space is available for School Choice requests. This option enables parents residing in the Evergreen School District to apply for a transfer to a school other than their home school which is designated by their residence. 

1. Child must be registered at their designated home school.
2. Transfer requests are approved based on a lottery and on space availability for School Choice Transfer Requests at the requested school.
3. Parent/guardian is responsible for the transportation of students approved for a School Choice Transfer Request.
4. Approval is for a specific school.
5. Students who are not approved for a School Choice Transfer Request will attend their home school.

• There must be open slots available at the requested school that can accommodate students outside the school’s attendance area.
• Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students are not eligible to participate in the lottery process.
• No student who resides within the attendance area of a school may be displaced by a transfer student.
• It is expected that all students granted a School Choice transfer will maintain regular and timely attendance.
• School Choice placements are granted via a lottery.
• NO district transportation will be provided for transfer students.
• You may apply for two school of choices.

What if my child is new to Evergreen School District?
Students must be registered at their home school prior to applying for a School Choice Transfer.

Where can I obtain a School Choice Transfer Request Form and to whom do I submit it?
School Choice Transfer Request forms are available online on the district's website.  (See below.)

How long is an approved School Choice transfer valid?
An approved transfer request is valid for the student’s continuous education at the requested school. However, in extreme situations, such as a school becoming impacted by unanticipated growth or boundary changes, the District reserves the right to revoke the transfer.

Are there any other considerations for School Choice transfers?
No. Legislation specifically calls for a random, unbiased selection process and does not permit special consideration for circumstances such as childcare, family needs, etc.

What is the selection process for School Choice transfer requests?
The law requires that districts select students who are requesting a school transfer in a random and unbiased manner. “First come, first served” is not considered random or unbiased under the law.

Will transportation be provided to the new school?
No. The Evergreen School District does not provide transportation for students attending schools under the School Choice Program.

What if I have more than one child?
When parents complete a School Choice Transfer Request form, all children in the family may be listed on one application. All children on the application who have requested a transfer to the same school will be assigned a single lottery number on that school’s waiting list.

If one of my children has previously been approved, what about incoming siblings?
Once a child has been approved for a School Choice transfer and has been enrolled at the school of choice for one year, his/her siblings will be given priority consideration for School Choice status if:

1. the incoming student is registered at the home school, and
2. the parent completes a School Choice application, and
3. the application indicates that the child who is approved for school choice is currently attending the approved school of choice, and
4. space is available for School Choice requests. In all instances, sibling approval is not guaranteed.

How will parents be notified of the status of their School Choice Request?
By the end of July, parents will be notified by mail regarding the status of transfer requests received during the application period.

• If approved, the child will attend their school of choice and registration paperwork will be transferred to the school of choice.
• If placed on a waiting list, the child will attend their home school. Parents will receive a second notification only if space becomes available for the requested grade level at the requested school.
• If not approved, the child will attend their home school. All requests received after the application period will be processed in a timely manner.