Transfer Types & Requirements

Transfers

Students are required to attend their zoned school; however, there are circumstances that will allow them to transfer to a school outside of their zoned area. Transfers in Richland One School District are not granted based on preference. If the applicant qualifies for one of the transfer types listed below, the applicant must complete the Transfers & Educational Rights Application through the online portal for consideration:

• Childcare
• Administrative
• Severe hardship
• High school senior transfer
• Programs and unique offerings (grades 9 to 12 only)
• Employee option
• Sibling exception
• Out of District Release
• Remainder of the School Year

Once an application is submitted, there is no guarantee of approval. All required documents must be uploaded with the submitted application for the application to be considered complete. The student’s academic, attendance, and discipline records may factor into the decision process. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Applications will not be accepted for closed schools. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to check the open/closed list when applying. If an application type is submitted incorrectly, the parent/guardian will be asked to resubmit the application. District staff cannot alter submitted applications.

All transfers are subject to revocation. See the Revocation of Transfers section and/or Policy AR JFABC-R.

Student Assignment and Transfer Procedures

The transfer and/or assignment of students within Richland One School District is made by board policy. All assignments are based upon the parent’s/guardian’s residence or other lawful admissions as provided by policy and procedure. The district has the authority to require a parent/legal guardian with whom a student resides to establish proof of residency within the district. A student’s residence is defined as the structure in which their parents/legal guardians reside continuously.

Children within the ages prescribed by Section 59‑63‑20 of the SC Code of Laws shall be entitled to attend the public schools of any school district, without charge, if the child owns real estate in the district having an assessed value of three hundred dollars or more.

A transfer student is defined as a student attending a school other than his/her zoned school. Furthermore, the district reserves the right to verify the validity of the transfer circumstance and residency, as necessary. Transfers may be revoked if the parent/legal guardian moves outside of the Richland One attendance area. See the Revocation of Transfers section for more details.

 Establishing Guardianship

State law requires that a copy of official documents establishing a guardian relationship with a student be on file, whether legal, testamentary, or by judicial appointment. Adult residents of the district who are given custody of a child through a DSS agency or court order need to obtain educational rights to enroll the child by completing the Transfers & Educational Rights Application. In addition to the application, those who have a child residing with them due to reasons listed under the Guardianship section of Policy JFAA must also complete the Guardianship Affidavit.

Establishing Residency

To establish residency in Richland One School District, two proofs of residency are required. One document must prove tenancy and the other must show continued occupancy. The following documents are acceptable, but not limited to: 

• The original mortgage statement, signed lease agreement, or deed bearing the parent/legal guardian’s name and residential address
• The parent/legal guardian’s current monthly utility bill (gas, water, electric, cable) or landline phone bill showing his/her legal name and address
• A copy of the parent/legal guardian’s state-issued ID will only be required as a means of verifying identification.

The district reserves the right to request additional proof if documents presented do not sufficiently demonstrate physical occupancy.

Administrative

Out-of-attendance-zone transfers may be considered for extraordinary circumstances and conditions, if the transfer is found to be in the best interest of the student and the sending and receiving schools.  There must be documentation or facts that support a transfer is in the best interest of the student and the sending and receiving schools. Administrative transfer requests will be reviewed by the Registrar’s Office with input from other Student Support Services staff.  If necessary, input from the sending and receiving schools may be required.  Decisions will be made based on the preponderance of evidence and not by opinion.

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Copy of the student’s long form birth certificate or proof of birth
• Proofs of residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• Written statement from the parent/guardian explaining the situation in detail and why an administrative transfer should be granted
• If applicable, Special Education classification, IEP (Individualized Education Program), and/or 504 plan
• Any other supportive documents

If an administrative transfer request is denied, the following next steps will apply:

• If the request was submitted for a school that is closed to transfers, the denial is final.
• If the request was submitted for a school with space availability, an appeal may be made to the director of support services within 10 school days of receiving the denial letter.
• If the appeal is denied by the director of support services, a second level appeal may be made to the chief of staff.

The superintendent reserves the right to grant an administrative transfer for extenuating circumstances. In cases where the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee grants a transfer, the parent/guardian must complete the application process for record-keeping.

Childcare

Childcare transfers will be granted only to students in grades kindergarten through eight. Childcare circumstances may be reviewed, as often as necessary, while the student is attending a school for which a transfer is granted. The documentation should show that all adult family members of the students’ household who are legally responsible for the student are engaged in full-time employment, are full-time student(s), or are disabled. Such circumstances must make them unavailable to care for the student(s) immediately before and/or after school hours.

Transfers may be granted to the zoned school of the caregiver or commercial childcare facility only when space is available. If a transfer is granted, the caregiver is responsible for transportation to and from school. In cases where the zoned school of a private caregiver is closed, the Registrar’s Office will suggest the next nearest school with space availability. When the zoned school of a commercial childcare facility is closed, the Registrar’s Office may consider a transfer to schools where the childcare facility offers drop-off and/or pick up if one of those schools has space availability.

Childcare transfers may be considered for schools with space availability after the transfer season (March 1st to May 1st) under one or more of the following circumstances:

• The family is new to the district
• The parents/legal guardians have had a recent change of employment
• Changes with the childcare provider have affected the student’s afterschool care
• The student has recently been placed with the family
• A residential change which has affected the before and/or after-school care of the student

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Childcare affidavit
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Copy of the student’s long form birth certificate or proof of birth
• Proofs of residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• Letter on company/school letterhead verifying Monday – Friday work/school schedule from the employer/school of all the adults who are responsible for the student(s) on the application
• Medical verification, if applicable

If a Childcare transfer request is denied, the following next steps will apply:

• If the request was submitted for a school that is closed to transfers, the denial is final.
• If the request was submitted for a school with space availability, an appeal may be made to the director of support services within 10 school days of receiving the denial letter.

If the appeal is denied by the director of support services, a second level appeal may be made to the chief of staff.

Employee Option Renewal

Employees must renew their Employee Option Transfer annually by providing the following documentation to the Registrar’s Office:

• Completed Renewal Application
• Proof of employment (most recent paystub or contract)
  • Employee ID cannot be accepted as proof of employment
• Letter of Release, if employee’s residence is out-of-district

Renewals are processed during transfer season (March 1^st - May 1^st.) Failure to renew an Employee Option Transfer may result in revocation of transfer.

Employee Option

Children of Full-time Richland One School District employees who reside in- or out-of-district may apply for their student(s) to attend school in Richland One School District based on the following guidelines:

• Employees may select their worksite, if the worksite is the appropriate grade level, the school nearest the worksite, or a school on the direct route from their residence to their worksite.
  • The residential address used must be the address on file with Human Resources.
  • The employee’s worksite is determined by Human Resources and is recorded in MUNIS, or the database used by Human Resources to record such information.
  • The direct route is determined by the Registrar’s Office by using sites, such as, but not limited to Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Waze, etc.
• Employees must provide transportation to and from the approved school.
• Employees who have separated from full-time employment with Richland One are no longer eligible to have their students attend Richland One schools on the Employee Option transfer.
  • If employment ceases after the 45th day, the student will be able to complete the school year. (See policy JFAB)
  • Out-of-district tuition will be waived.
  • The student will attend his/her zoned school the following school year.
  • If the student will be a senior in the school year, he/she is to return to the zoned school, the parent/legal guardian must follow the procedures for applying for a high school senior transfer.
• Employee Option requests will only be considered for closed schools when it is the employee’s worksite.
• Sibling Exception may not be used with Employee Option approvals.

Out-of-District Employees

• Employees who live outside of Richland One must provide a letter of release from the residential district annually, even if the student never attended school in the residential district.
• Out-of-district employees who want to enroll their pre-kindergarten student may only apply for the Language Immersion program at Carver-Lyon.
  • The approval for the Language Immersion program must be obtained prior to completing the Employee Option request.
  • The approval letter must be uploaded with the Employee Option application
• Student’s discipline and academic record must be in good standing upon entering Richland One
• Employees who live outside of Richland One will have the out-of-district tuition waived.

All Employee Option transfers are subject to space availability and the revocation process.

Employee option transfers may be considered for schools with space availability after the transfer season (March 1st to May 1st) under the following circumstances (must have occurred no more than 30 days prior to application submission.):

• The employee is a new hire with the school district 
• The employee has had a recent change of employment with the school district
• A student has been recently placed in the care of the employee via foster care, court order, or other legal paperwork
• The student’s discipline and academic record must be in good standing

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID (not work ID)
• Student’s birth certificate
• Proofs of residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• Proof of Employment (latest check stub or contract) Not the work ID
• If your residence is outside of Richland One, you must obtain a letter of release from your residential district on an annual basis.

If an employee option transfer is denied, the following next steps will apply:

• An appeal may be made to the director of support services within 10 school days of receiving the denial letter.

If the appeal is denied by the director of support services, a second level appeal may be made to the chief of staff.

High School Senior Transfer

Classification of high school students as freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior is based on the cumulative number of specific course credits earned in each grade level. A high school senior who was in attendance in a Richland One school at the end of his/her junior year may request to attend said school in his/her senior year, despite moving out of the attendance zone or school district. At the time of the request the student must have earned the requisite 16 credits to be classified as a senior and eligible to graduate in the same school year.

The student’s academic, attendance, and discipline records may factor into the decision process.

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Completed application (online)
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Student’s full-sized birth certificate
• Proofs of CURRENT residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• In-District residents who share housing must follow the Shared Housing Affidavit requirements.
• Out-of-District residents must provide a letter of release and a written request to the school board
• The written request to the board may include a partial or full waiver of tuition.

If the high school senior transfer request for an in-district student is denied, the following next steps will apply:

• The denial may be appealed within 10 school days of receiving the denial letter. Appeals will be heard by the director of support services.
• If the appeal is denied by the director of support services, a second level appeal may be made to the chief of staff.

In cases where a senior has moved out of the district before the start of the senior year, or at any point during the student’s senior year and the student desires to complete his/her senior year in Richland One, the application process provided by the Registrar’s Office must be completed. Out of district requests are determined by the school board of commissioners. Requests are subject to the student meeting guidelines as outlined in board policy JFAB, Non-Resident Students. In such instances where tuition or fees are assessed, students may appeal for a full or partial waiver to the board of school commissioners. If the waiver of tuition or fees is not granted by the board, the tuition or fees will become due immediately to continue the enrollment.

In the event the high school senior transfer request is denied by the Richland One School Board of Commissioners, the decision is final.

Out of District Release

Parents who reside in Richland School District One can request that their student(s) be released based on one the following circumstances: 

• To attend another school district where the parent is employed.
• To attend another school district where the student owns property.
• To complete the school year after the 45th day of school.
• To complete their senior year of high school after moving out of the district of attendance. 

The letter of release from Richland School District One permits the school district for which you are requesting to enroll your student.  The student’s enrollment is subject to the requested school district’s approval.  If the requested school district denies the enrollment, then the letter of release is deemed invalid.  The letter of release and the acceptance of enrollment absolves Richland One of any transportation, fee, or funding related responsibilities as a result of the student’s enrollment in the requested school district.

Out-of-District Acceptance Applications

Student Owned Property

In accordance with SC Code of Laws Section 59-63-30, a student within the ages prescribed by Section 59-63-20 who lives outside of Richland One School District’s attendance zone shall be entitled attend a Richland One school if the student owns real estate in said district having an assessed value of three hundred dollars or more. The student must attend the school zoned to his/her property. If the residential school district will not grant a letter of release, it may prohibit the enrollment into Richland One.

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Copy of the student’s long form birth certificate
• Copy of deed bearing the student’s name
• Proof of out-of-district residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• Letter of release from the residential district
• Transcript
• Discipline Record
• If applicable, Special Education classification, IEP (Individualized Education Program), and/or 504 plan
• Any other supportive documents

Tuition Student

In accordance with SC Code of Laws Section 59-63-45, a nonresident child otherwise meeting the enrollment requirements may attend a school in said school district which he is otherwise qualified to attend if the person responsible for educating the child pays an amount equal to the prior year's local revenue per child raised by the millage levied for school district operations. If the payment to the school district is not made within a reasonable time as determined by the district, the child must be removed from the school after written notice is given. All tuition payments must be paid by July 1 for the upcoming school year. Tuition for a new student must be paid before enrollment is permitted. If the student’s start date is after the school year begins; tuition will be prorated. If the residential school district will not grant a letter of release, it may prohibit the enrollment into Richland One.

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Copy of the student’s long form birth certificate
• Proof of out-of-district residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• Letter of release from the residential district
• Transcript
• Discipline Record
• Tuition payment in full
  • If tuition has been partially or fully waived by the board, documentation must be provided.
• If applicable, Special Education classification, IEP (Individualized Education Program), and/or 504 plan

Any other supportive documents

Programs and Unique Offerings Transfer

Transfers may be permitted for a high school program of study or unique offering that is not offered in the zoned school. If a request is submitted for a program or unique offering that is offered at the zoned school, the request will be denied. If the request is inadvertently approved for a program that is offered at the zoned school, the decision will be rescinded immediately. The following criteria must be met to apply for a programmatic/unique offering transfer:

• The program must have been offered for two (2) years
• The student must show yearly successful completion of the desired program
• The request for transfer and enrollment must be made during the allotted time for transfers (March 1 – May 1)

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Completed application (Online)
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Student’s full-sized birth certificate
• Proofs of residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• Residents who share housing must follow the Shared Housing Affidavit requirements.
• Transcripts are required for students who are not attending a Richland One school.

If a Programs and Unique Offerings Transfer is denied, the following next steps will apply:

• If the request was submitted for a school that is closed to transfers, the denial is final.
• If the request was submitted for a school with space availability, an appeal may be made to the director of support services within 10 school days of receiving the denial letter.

If the appeal is denied by the director of support services, a second level appeal may be made to the chief of staff.

Remainder of the School Year or Withdrawal

In-District

If a student’s address changes during the school year, the student will be given the option of remaining at the school he/she is attending for the remainder of that school year. However, the student must enroll in his/her zoned school at the beginning of the next school year.

If the address provided for an individual proves to be incorrect, the school assignment becomes invalid and must be corrected. Correcting a student’s school assignment will be done by the school, working in tandem with the Registrar’s Office. The student may be required to attend their zoned school. If it is determined that a student must be withdrawn, all the guidelines in the Revocation section must be followed.

Out-of-District

If it is determined by the district that an address is incorrect and the student lives out-of-district, the parent/legal guardian will pay the cost for educating the student while in attendance at district schools. The student will no longer be able to attend unless the enrollment meets the conditions for an out-of-district move specified in Policy JFAB. Parents/Legal guardians will be notified, in writing, when a student’s enrollment is not in accordance with state law and/or school board policy and provided an appropriate assessment of tuition.

Severe Hardship  

A Severe Hardship transfer may be granted in cases where there is a clear condition of danger or hazard to the student, family, or both. There must be proof the danger or hazard is preventing the child from attending the school for which the student is assigned. A severe hardship committee will review completed requests. The committee may include, but not be limited to, the district registrar and other student support services staff. Information to make the decision may be solicited, by the committee, from the sending and/or receiving schools’ principals. Due to the nature of these transfer requests, they will be accepted at any time during the school year. Applying for a transfer does not guarantee approval.  The student must remain in school while the request is being reviewed.  For students being held out of school while the request is being reviewed, attendance and truancy protocols will be followed. 

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Copy of the student’s long form birth certificate
• Proofs of residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage
• Written statement from the parent/guardian explaining why a severe hardship transfer should be granted
• If applicable, Special Education classification, IEP, and/or 504 plan
• Written recommendation from a licensed professional.
  • Must support the reason for the Severe Hardship transfer
• Any other supportive documents, such as: photos, police reports, etc.

The superintendent reserves the right to grant a severe hardship transfer for extenuating circumstances. In cases where the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee grants a transfer, the parent/guardian must complete the application process for record-keeping.

If a Severe Hardship transfer request is denied, the following next steps will apply:

• If the request was submitted for a school that is closed to transfers, the denial is final.
• If the request was submitted for a school with space availability, an appeal may be made to the director of support services within 10 school days of receiving the denial letter.

If the appeal is denied by the director of support services, a second level appeal may be made to the chief of staff.

Sibling Exception

For Sibling Exception applications to be considered, the siblings must reside in the same household.

Parents/legal guardians who have a student attending a school on an approved transfer may use a sibling exception transfer to have the approved student’s sibling attend the same school. For example, John was approved for Montessori at Logan Elementary, so his sister now qualifies to attend the school under a Sibling Exception Transfer. This transfer only approves the sibling to attend the school and does not place the sibling in any program.

To be eligible, the approved student must be attending the requested school in the school year the sibling enters. This request should only be completed for a student who has a sibling approved to attend a school by one of the following policy-approved transfers:  Programs and Unique Offerings, Administrative, Severe Hardship, High School Senior, placement by Special Education Services (SPED), Pre-K and School Readiness Departments, or a district approved transfer to a school (excluding Employee Option and Childcare approvals). If an entire school is a Montessori or program school, such as Brockman, the sibling exception will not apply.

Sibling exception requests may be submitted for a closed school; however, the Registrar’s Office will consult with the necessary district staff to determine if a slot can be opened for the sibling. 

Any student application for a sibling exception where the approved sibling is a Pre-K student, an approval will only allow the applying student to attend the school for the duration of the Pre-K approval. If the sibling’s approval is granted through their highest grade, then the applying student will also be granted through the highest grade. Exceptions may apply and will be explained in the written response. 

The following documentation/information is required to apply:

• Completed Transfers & Educational Rights Application
• Parent/Guardian valid, state-issued photo ID
• Copy of student's full-sized birth certificate
• Proof of the original sibling's approval
• Proofs of residence (both are required)
  • Lease or proof of mortgage
  • Utility bill
• Shared Housing Affidavit Only required if residing with another family and not listed as the party responsible for the lease or mortgage

If the original student's transfer is revoked, the sibling's transfer exception may also be revoked.

If a sibling exception is denied, the following next steps will apply:

• An appeal may be made to the director of support services within 10 school-days of receiving the denial letter.

If the appeal is denied by the director of support services, a second level appeal may be made to the chief of staff.

Withdrawing From School While on a Transfer

If a student is withdrawn while at a school on a transfer, upon returning to the district, the student must be enrolled at his/her zoned school, unless it is determined to be in the student’s best interest to attend a school other than the zoned school.

All students attending a school on a transfer are subject to revocation; all steps under the Revocation section must be followed.

Revocation of Transfer

If a student’s attendance is being monitored, the principal or designated school staff must send a written notification to the parent/guardian warning of an impending revocation. If the issue persists, the student’s transfer may be revoked for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:

• repeated tardiness and/or other irregularities of attendance
• repeated consequential violations of the discipline code
• failure to show yearly successful completion of the desired program
• submission of incorrect information
• employee separation from the district

The principal or designee will send a written notification to the parents/legal guardians of the revocation and the right to appeal to the director of support services or designee. All written notifications must be copied to the district registrar and the director of support services with any other documents pertinent to the reason for the revocation.

The parent/legal guardian has the right to appeal anytime a student is being revoked/ withdrawn. If the parent chooses not to appeal or the withdrawal is upheld by the director of support services, the student will be withdrawn immediately. If middle or high school students are enrolled in high school credit courses, the student may be returned at the end of the semester or end of the school year. If the student who is enrolled in high school credit courses does not have passing grades in said courses, has repeated tardiness and/or other irregularities of attendance, repeated consequential violations of the student code of conduct, or submission of incorrect information, it may be determined after the appeals process that the student must be withdrawn immediately.

The appeal must be made within ten (10) school days to the director of support services or his/her designee. During the appeals process, the student is to remain enrolled at his/her school at the time of the revocation notification. The decision of the director of support services or his/her designee is final.

Appeals

The most current zoning model for the school district will determine a student’s school assignment. If a student is attending a school for which he/she is not zoned or approved to attend, the enrollment will be reviewed by the school and district registrar. The incorrect enrollment will be carefully reviewed and handled in accordance with policy on incorrect school assignments in the Registrar’s procedures.

If a transfer is denied, first-level appeals must be submitted to the director of support services within ten (10) school days of the letter of denial. Second-level appeals will be handled by the chief of staff and a three-member panel to consist of, but not limited to, executive and cabinet level administrators.

The Registrar’s Office does not accept applications for schools closed to transfers. In the case where an application is submitted for a closed school, a denial letter will be sent to the parent/guardian and school(s) involved. There is no appeals process for denials to closed schools.

Athletic Eligibility

Any transfer made without an actual change of residence by the parent/legal guardian may interrupt a student’s athletic eligibility in grades seventh though twelfth for one (1) calendar year (365 days), effective on the date the change was made. Student(s) should contact the athletic director or coordinator to determine eligibility requirements.

Determining Schools’ Space Availability

Transfer requests will be accepted from the parent/legal guardian beginning March 1st and ending May 1st by the Registrar’s Office of Student Support Services. If March 1st and/or May 1st occur on a day when administrative offices are closed, requests will be accepted on or through the next open business day.

Space availability (excluding portables) is determined annually by the superintendent’s designee and the director of support services, with input from facility services, research and evaluation, executive directors of schools, and the director of special education with final approval from the superintendent’s cabinet.

Principals will be notified in writing of space availability for school transfers before March 1st. A determination of the projected number of students to be enrolled to meet the criteria of 90 percent of the capacity of the school will be made by Richland One by the beginning of the transfer acceptance period. Applications will not be accepted for schools with no space availability.

Monitoring Process

The district will maintain a system to monitor the accuracy of student assignments. The surveillance and monitoring system will become part of the total management system for student accounting. Annually, a minimum of 15 percent randomly selected transfers will be audited for accuracy of student assignments. The superintendent is authorized to investigate transfers including, but not limited to, the investigation of all transfers in a single school.

All admissions by schools for transfer or zoned assignment are required to have a minimum of two (2) address verifications.

Any student found out of zone without proper authorization must be reported to the office of district registrar for investigation and correction of assignment. The transfer revocation procedures will apply.

In August and at the beginning of each semester, a report on student assignments and transfers will be given to the superintendent.