Policy 7:30 Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer

Student Assignment

The Board is committed to neighborhood schools while providing flexibility for variations in enrollment.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish an unbiased enrollment process based on objective criteria to assign students to schools near their homes subject to constraints on each school’s capacity and to the effective use of classroom space throughout the district.

Homeless children shall be assigned according to Board Policy 6:140, Education of Homeless Children.

Transfers Within the District

A student(s) parent(s)/guardian(s) may request a transfer for their child to a District school other than the one assigned. A request should be directed to the Superintendent, who, at his or her sole discretion may grant the request when the parent(s)/guardian(s) demonstrate that the student could be better accommodated at another school, provided space is available. If a request is granted, the parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be responsible for transportation. The provisions in this section have no applicability to transfers pursuant to the Unsafe School Choice Option covered in Board policy 4:170, Safety.

Legal REF.: 105 ILCS 5/10-21.3, 5/10-21.3a, and 5/10-22.5.

Cross REF.: 4:170 (Safety), 6:30 (Organization of Instruction), 6:140 (Education of Homeless Children)

Adopted: December 21, 2016

Amended: May 16, 2018

Exhibit – Elementary School Student Assignment Policy

Students are assigned to schools using an objective assignment process which minimizes total student walking distance subject to the constraints of each school’s capacity in order to:

• Maintain the neighborhood school concept

• Effectively use classroom space across the four elementary schools

• Provide the administration with an effective tool for maintaining appropriately balanced class sizes throughout the district

Kindergarten Student Assignment

A kindergarten registration period is held each year in the spring and information is published on the District 96 website.

Students will be assigned to a school near their home while taking into account each school’s capacity. Students with older siblings in attendance in the upcoming year will be assigned to the same school unless otherwise requested by the parent(s)/guardian(s).  Requests for sibling attendance at different schools will be reviewed by the Superintendent.

Once assigned to a school, a student will be able to remain in that school through 5th grade. Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified of the school assignment by June 30th.

Newly Enrolled Student Assignment for Grades 1-5

All newly enrolled students will be assigned to a school near their home within each school’s capacity. Siblings will be assigned to the same school, unless otherwise requested by the parent(s)/guardian(s). Requests for sibling attendance at different schools will be reviewed by the Superintendent.

Once assigned to a school, a student will remain in that school through 5th grade.

The Superintendent shall keep the Board of Education informed with a Monthly Enrollment Report and a Student Assignment Report by school at the Regular Board of Education Meeting.

Adopted: November 17, 2015

Amended: May 16, 2018