Richmond County School System Parent Annual ... - Rcboe.org

Richmond County School System Parent Annual Choice Notification Letter
January 10, 2011
To All Parents and Guardians of Students of the Richmond County School System
RE: House Bill 251 (2009) Public School Choice for 2011-2012 school year
Dear Parents and Guardians:
As the parent or guardian of a student currently enrolled in our school system, we are notifying you that under state law
you may request to transfer your child to a public school in the Richmond County School System, other than the one to
which your child is currently zoned, for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year.
Parent Responsibilities
As a parent or guardian, you can request to have your child transferred to another public school within your school system
of residence as long as the school system has determined that there is available classroom space at the school after all
assigned students have been enrolled, including special needs students and other categories of exception. Please keep in
mind that if you choose to transfer your child to another school in the system, the law requires you to assume all costs and
responsibilities related to the transportation of your child to and from the school as long as your child remains at that
school.
For your convenience, the system’s list of schools with available classroom space for the upcoming school year is posted
on line on the Richmond County School System website. In order to process your request, you will need to complete and
submit the attached “Transfer Request Form.” Requests for transfers will not be accepted after the close of business on
March 4, 2011. It should be noted that the Richmond County School System is currently under a desegregation Court
Order which requires the Court to approve all attendance zone changes. The School System is requesting the Court to
approve this transfer process as consistent with the oversight duties of the Court. Therefore, no transfer request will be
approved until the Court Order is executed. However, we are asking that you meet the deadline stated herein so the School
System can act expeditiously in the event that the Court allows this process.
Transfer requests will be reviewed and approved or denied on the basis of a lottery in the event a particular school has
available space and the number of transfer requests exceeds the remaining available capacity. Once available classroom
space is reached at a school, no more transfers will be accepted at that school. Since it is possible that you may not receive
your first choice, you may indicate more than one choice on the Transfer Request Form available at this website.
If you have questions regarding this, please contact the Office of the Deputy Superintendent, at 706-826-1125.
Sincerely,
Dr. James Whitson
Deputy Superintendent of Schools

House Bill 251 (2011)
Public School Choice Framework
List of Schools with Space for Public Choice
The following schools have limited space at the date of posting this notice. Students new to the
school zone, Choice students under NCLB, Special Education Scholarships, other approved and
established exemptions and class size limitations may render a school ineligible to accept
transfers prior to final approval.
The requesting parent or legal guardian is responsible for investigating and determining such
impact on eligibility and thereafter make an individual decision about the consequences of
accepting this permissive transfer. I also understand that transportation to and from school is my
responsibility at my sole expense.
Elementary School(s) with capacity
Middle School(s) with capacity
Blythe Elementary School
Glenn Hills Middle School
Craig-Houghton Elementary School
Hephzibah Middle School
Garrett Elementary School
Morgan Road Middle School
Hephzibah Elementary School
Murphey Charter Middle School
W.S. Hornsby K-8
Pine Hill Middle School
Jamestown Elementary School
Spirit Creek Middle School
Jenkins-White Elementary School
Lamar-Milledge Elementary School
A. Brian Merry Elementary School High School(s) with capacity
Monte Sano Elementary School
National Hills Elementary School
Academy of Richmond County
Rollins Elementary School
Butler High School
Terrace Manor Elementary School
T.W. Josey High School
Willis Foreman Elementary School
Lucy Laney High School
Westside High School

House Bill 251 Public School Choice and RCSS Zone Exemption/Hardship Waivers
House Bill 251 Public School Choice
Under a 2009 state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2131), parents may request a transfer to another public school within their local
school district to specified schools and grades as designated as possibly having space available. In the RCSS, any
school with an enrollment below 85% capacity will be considered a participating school.
Please keep in mind that if a parent chooses to transfer a child to another school in the system, the law requires that they
assume all costs and responsibilities related to the transportation of the child to and from the school as long as the child
remains at that school.
In addition, any change of school placement which is not the result of a bona fide change of residence may impact a
student's eligibility to participate in Georgia High School Association sanctioned varsity activities and events for a period
of one calendar year. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for investigating and determining such impact on
eligibility and thereafter make an individual decision about the consequences of accepting a permissive transfer if
approved.
In order to process a request, parents or guardians will need to complete and submit a "Transfer Request Form." A copy
of the Transfer Request Form can be obtained by visiting the RCSS website at www.rcboe.org, or the front desk of the
RCSS Central Office at 864 Broad Street.
Transfer requests will be reviewed and approved or denied on the basis of a lottery in the event a particular school has
available space and the number of transfer requests exceeds the remaining available capacity. Once available classroom
space is reached at a school, no more transfers will be accepted at that school. Since it is possible that a first choice may
not be granted, the form allows for the indication of more than one choice.
Zone Exemption/Hardship Waivers
In addition to the House Bill 251 Public School Choice law, the RCSS offers a Zone Exemption/Hardship waiver for
parents and guardians in regards their children. These waivers can allow for a student to attend an out of zone school if a
hardship can be proven by the parent or guardian. Zone Exemption/Hardship waivers may be obtained from the RCSS
Central Office at 864 Broad Street. A school's performance standing, AYP status or academic status will not qualify as a
hardship.
Any parents or guardians who would like to submit a first time Zone Transfer/Hardship waiver must do so to the RCSS
Central Office at 864 Broad Street. Parents or guardians of students who are currently attending an out of zone school
under a previous hardship waiver must complete and resubmit the form to the administration of the out of zone school
currently being attended.
The deadline for receipt for any transfers under House Bill 251 or Zone Transfer/Hardship waiver for school year
2011-2012 is close of business on March 4, 2011.
If you have questions regarding this information, please contact Dr. James Whitson, Deputy Superintendent, at
706-826-1310, ext. 3411.

Richmond County School System Transfer Request Form
House Bill 251 (2011)
Public School Choice
NOTE: This form is not to be used to request a transfer under NCLB nor Georgia Special Needs Option
Scholarship Transfer (These forms may be obtained at www.rcboe.org)
Parents: please complete this form and mail to Dr. James Whitson, Deputy Superintendent,
864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, GA, 30901
Under a 2009 state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-2131), parents may request a transfer to another public school within their local school
district to specified schools and grades as designated as possibly having space available. If you wish to request a transfer, please
complete the information below. Any change of school placement which is not the result of a bona fide change of residence may
impact a student's eligibility to participate in Georgia High School Association sanctioned varsity activities and events for a period of
one calendar year. The parent or legal guardian is responsible for investigating and determining such impact on eligibility and
thereafter make an individual decision about the consequences of accepting a permissive transfer if approved. The deadline for
receipt of this written request is March 4, 2011 at 5:00pm.
Student Information
Parent or Legal Guardian Transfer Request Form (Parents Must Complete)
Date_________________ Student’s Name________________________________________________
(Please Print)
Grade (2010-2011 School Year) ___________ Birth Date ______________
Age________
Name of Custodial Parent or Guardian requesting transfer ______________________________________
Home Address______________________________________________________________________
(Street) (City) (State) (ZIP)
Phone_________________________ E-Mail (if available)____________________________________
_________
__
Richmond County School the student is zoned to attend in 2011-2012 _______________________________
Name of School
Parent Request for School Transfer
I_____________________________________ am requesting a transfer for ________________________
(Name of Parent/Guardian)
(Student’s Legal Name)
to attend one of the following other schools in the system. If approved, I understand that transportation to and from school is my
responsibility at my sole expense. I fully understand that my child may only receive a Permissive Transfer to a choice of schools
if space is available at the time this request is approved by the local school system.
Parent/Guardian Ranked List of Schools for Transfer (where more than one school is available). Selection must conform
with the posted space for Public Choice List of Schools
1) ________________________________________________
2) ________________________________________________
3) ________________________________________________
_______________________________________________ _____________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Note: The School System is requesting the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Georgia to allow this
transfer process. However, no transfer will be allowed until approval of the process is received from the Federal
Court.