Inter-District Information

For School Year 2024/25

If you live in the Meridian School Dostrict and wish to transfer into a school within another district:

The Board wishes to encourage students and their parents/guardians to be informed about District program options before they choose to request a transfer to another school district. Therefore, the Board requires local site visitations and meeting with administration before considering Inter-district Transfer Applications (ITP) to leave the District. You must obtain an application from our office. We will begin accepting outgoing Inter-district Transfer Application for the 2024/25 school year after Winter Break in January.

If you live outside the Meridian School District and wish to transfer to Meridian:

You must apply using our Inter-district application available on this website or from our office. You must also obtain an approved application from the resident school district. We will begin reviewing incoming Inter-district Transfer Applications for the 2024/2025 school year after Winter Break in January.

Timelines:

Failure of the parent to meet any timelines established by the school district shall be deemed an abandonment of the request. As defined in Section 46600.1 the district shall notify the parent submitting a current year (15 or fewer calendar days before the start of instruction for that school year) request of its final decision within 30 calendar days from the date the request was received, and notify a parent submitting a future year (16 or more calendar days before commencement of instruction) request of its final decision as soon as possible, but no later than 14 calendar days after the commencement of instruction in the school year for which inter-district transfer is sought.

Length of ITP:

An inter-district transfer permit (ITP) may be approved by the receiving district for a length not to exceed five school years. Enrollment through an ITP is subject to continued enrollment. If the pupil disenrolls after the ITP has been granted or moves out of the district of residence into another district, the parent/pupil must reapply for a new ITP.

Reapplication Requirements. Once a student is admitted to a school on the basis of an inter-district attendance permit, he/she shall not be required to reapply for an inter-district transfer and shall be allowed to continue to attend the school in which he/she is enrolled, unless reapplication standards are otherwise specified in the inter-district attendance agreement.

Documentation to be submitted:

Report Card
Discipline report
Attendance report
CAASPP scores (grades4-8)

Terms and Conditions for Permitting a Transfer.

The Superintendent or designee may approve an inter-district attendance permit for a student for any of the following reasons when stipulated in the agreement:

When the student has been determined by staff of either the district of residence or district of proposed attendance to be a victim of an act of bullying as defined in Education Code 48900(r). Such a student shall be given priority for inter-district attendance under any existing inter-district attendance agreement or, in the absence of an agreement, shall be given consideration for the creation of a new permit. (Education Code 46600)
To meet the child-care needs of the student. Such a student may be allowed to continue to attend district schools only as long as he/she continues to use a child-care provider within district boundaries.
To meet the student's special mental or physical health needs as certified by a physician, school psychologist, or other appropriate school personnel.
When the student has a sibling attending school in the receiving district, to avoid splitting the family's attendance. Such a student shall be given priority for inter-district attendance under any existing inter-district attendance agreement or, in the absence of an agreement, shall be given consideration for the creation of a new permit.
To allow the student to complete a school year when his/her parents/guardians have moved out of the district during that year.
To allow the student to remain with a class graduating that year from an elementary, middle, or senior high school.
When the parent/guardian provides written evidence that the family will be moving into the district in the immediate future and would like the student to start the year in the district.
When recommended by the school attendance review board or by county child welfare, probation, or social service agency staff in documented cases of serious home or community problems which make it inadvisable for the student to attend the school of residence.
When there is valid interest in a particular educational program not offered in the district of residence.

Terms or Conditions for Denying a Transfer. The Governing Board or designee of the school district may deny an ITP for a student under this Agreement based upon any of the following reasons:

If school facilities are overcrowded at the relevant grade level;
If district resources are limited;
If district determines that pupil grades, attendance, or behavior are unsatisfactory for district program; or
Any other consideration so long as it is not arbitrary.

Notice of Denial of Transfer .

Written notice of the denial of an ITP shall be provided by the district denying the request. Written notice of the denial of an ITP shall, in all instances, advise the parent/guardian of the student whose ITP has been denied of all information required by Education Code section 46601.

The appellant may appeal, in writing, the denial of the transfer request to the District Superintendent within ten (10) days of receipt of the denial.
If the appellant is not satisfied with the response of the Superintendent he/she may submit an appeal, in writing, to the District Board of Trustees within ten (10) days of receipt of denied appeal.
If the appellant is not satisfied with the decision of the Board of Trustees he/she may submit an appeal to the County Board of Education having jurisdiction over the district denying the transfer request.

County Board of Education shall require that all appeal steps be exhausted at the District level before submitting appeal to the County Board of Education.

Transportation.

The district shall not provide transportation beyond any school attendance area. Upon request, the Superintendent or designee may authorize transportation for inter-district transfer students to and from designated bus stops within the attendance area if space is available.

Terms for Revocation of an ITP .

Inter-district attendance is at the sole discretion of the School Board or its representative. Inter-district attendance permits may be denied, non-renewed, or revoked immediately by the Superintendent or designee for various reasons, including but not limited to, the following:

A parent/guardian made false statements or misrepresentations in applying for the student’s inter-district permit.
The student has a history of discipline or attendance problems or poor academic effort.
The student has been expelled, suspended, or otherwise disciplined, within two (2) years of the date of request for an inter-district transfer, by the transferring district or any other school district as a result of any violation of Education Code Section 48900 and/or 48915.
The student does not benefit from instruction and/or is disruptive to the learning environment. This can include excessive tardies and/or five or more unexcused absences/truancies.
The student’s academic achievement, citizenship and/or behavior are deemed not to be at the same level as that of average peers. To be admitted to a District school on an interdistrict attendance permit, students must have satisfactory grades, effort, and work habits.
The student or parent has violated the written terms and conditions of the Permit.
The welfare of the student and/or of other students is compromised or endangered. This may include, but is not limited to, lack of before or after-school care.
The student’s enrollment has been accomplished by falsification of address. (Falsification is an overt act of submitting to either district in writing a false address within school district boundaries while residing at an address outside of school district boundaries.) However, with the mutual agreement of representatives of both districts, a permit may be issued as an exception to the procedures if denial of the permit would have a seriously harmful effect upon the student.
The student moves from one district to another during the school year and the parent/student fails to notify the school officials within one week of the change of address. The school official shall immediately issue a transfer to the school of residence. Upon application, or upon mutual agreement of representatives of both districts, a permit may be issued if the denial of such permit would have a seriously harmful effect upon the student.
The student moves out of the district that initially issued the inter-district attendance permit.
The attendance of the student would increase the District’s class size above the maximums established by the State of California or above the maximums set in a teacher contract or would place the District at risk of violating such standards, or, would interfere with the appropriate scheduling of the student or other students, as determined by the Superintendent or designee.
When it has been determined that continued enrollment would result in additional costs to the District in excess of state funds.
Failure to satisfy the conditions on the approved transfer request will be sufficient cause to rescind an agreement at any point within the school year.
Whenever the school board believes that the inter-district attendance is no longer in the best interest of Meridian School or any of its students.