Welcome to the Keller ISD Student Transfer Information Page. The Keller Independent School District has a policy providing parents/guardians a limited opportunity to request for their children to transfer from one KISD campus to another within the district based on extenuating need. In order to apply for a transfer, please review the transfer and continuation information provided below in the form of frequently asked questions. Once you have reviewed the information provided, then you may access the on-line application by selecting the appropriate link.
ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSFERS
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS
1. Have there been any changes to the transfer process for the 2012-2013 school year?
- No signficant changes, however the Board of Trustees approved on March 14, 2011 to implement a $75.00 processing fee for all transfers submitted for the following reasons:
- Extenuating hardship,
- Moved outside of the boundaries of current campus during the school year but want to complete the grading period, semester, or school year.
- Moved outside of the KISD boundaries and has completed junior year of high school.
There will NOT be a processing fee charged for transfers submitted for the following reasons:
- Change in boundaries due to new campus and will be in final year at current campus or as otherwise determined for continuation by administration.
- Administrative transfers required by policy (Siblings of students in a special education program, victims of a violent crime)
- Selected for a program offered at a different High School Campus.
- *Students currently on a transfer approved for all grades at campus.
2. How do I initiate a transfer request for my child?
Transfers are initiated by completing the online application found at the bottom of this page. If a parent does not have access to the internet, access points for the purpose of completing the request form are available on all KISD campuses and at the Education Center. Once the application is completed, it will be considered for approval or denial by the campus principals involved and a designee from the Leadership Function.
3. What are the requirements considered for approval of transfers?
Transfers are only considered when one of the following needs occur:
- Extenuating hardship
- Change in boundaries due to new campus and will be in final year at current campus.
- Moved outside of the boundaries of current campus during the school year but want to complete the grading period, semester, or school year. Must still live in the Keller ISD.
- Moved outside of the KISD boundaries and has completed junior year of high school.
And qualifying criteria is met:
- Attendance: 90% for the previous semester and the most recent grading period including tardies.
- Academics: Passing all classes for the past grading period and a passing score on each segment of the State Assessment (Grades 3-12 only).
- Attitude/Behavior: Appropriate conduct and work habit grades.
- A need listed above.
4. When can I apply for a transfer?
A KISD student may apply for a transfer if enrolled in their home campus or will be entering Kindergarten. Out of district students are not eligible unless their parent or guardian is an employee of KISD. (Refer to question #21)
5. When will I be notified whether or not my transfer has been approved?
Requests for the upcoming school year will be considered during May of the current year. Requests made during June, July, and August will be considered during the first 3 weeks of school with notification taking place by the fifth week. Requests during the school year will be considered at the end of each grading period with notification prior to the start of the new grading period.
6. What is the process the District uses to determine whether or not my request for a transfer is approved?
Approval is determined based on three factors: Available space (see below), Qualifying criteria and Extenuating need (see question 3). Final approval is determined by a collaboration between the home campus and receiving campus principals with input from a designee from the Leadership Function. All decisions are final and are not subject to appeal.
Elementary/Intermediate (Grades K-6)
- Open/Closed campus status
- In Kindergarten through grade 4 - the enrollment in those grades is below 90% capacity.
- In grades 5 and 6 - the enrollment in those grades is below 90% capacity.
- Growth rate of the campus
Secondary (Grades 7-12)
- Open/Closed campus status
- In grades 7 through 12 – the enrollment is below 96% capacity.
- Growth rate of the campus
7. What is meant by open or closed campuses?
Each spring the administration reviews enrollment projections for all campuses in order to determine if a campus would be able to accommodate transfer requests for the next school year. Those campuses that are not able to accommodate transfers due to increased enrollment and capacity are labeled “closed” to transfers. Those campuses that are able to accommodate transfers due to extenuating need are labeled “open” to transfers. A list of closed campuses to transfers is provided on the Keller ISD web site.
8. How will I know if my transfer has been granted?
The parent/guardian will receive by email or be mailed an approval or denial letter. The campus will also receive notification.
9. Is bus transportation provided?
No. The District does not provide transportation for a student attending a school outside his or her attendance zone.
10. Do students have to apply for a transfer every year?
A student’s transfer will be approved for a designated time period which could be any of the following: end of grading period, end of semester, end of year, completion of grades at the campus. The application submitted will remain valid throughout the approved time period and does not need to be resubmitted unless the student no longer meets the qualifying criteria and space is available (exception-students who reside outside of Keller ISD must submit a transfer request each year – see question #12).
Students who are approved for a transfer for multiple years at a campus will only be required to pay an initial processing fee not an annual processing fee. Once a student has completed the time period in which the original transfer was approved, the parent must apply for a new transfer and another processing fee will be charged at that time. An approved transfer into a campus does not guarantee continuation throughout that campus’ feeder pattern.
11. Can I return to my home campus if I change my mind in regards to my transfer request?
Students who receive a transfer are expected to remain in the transfer school for the time period approved. If a request is received to return to the home campus it will be honored during the school year only if space is available. A student may return to his/her home campus at the beginning of the next school year if requested in writing to campus administration. Such a request to return to the home campus may disqualify a student from future consideration for a transfer.
12. What happens if my child’s assigned home campus will change next year because of boundary changes?
- Grades K-8: When an attendance zone is affected by a new boundary change, a student who is entering the final grade of a school (current 3rd graders, 5th graders, or 7th graders) shall be granted a transfer for the last year of attendance at that campus upon online request of the parent. Parents of students in 3rd grade, 5th grade, or 7th grade who are affected by new boundaries will receive written notification from the District on how to declare their intent to request a transfer. A processing fee will not be charged for these approved transfers.
- Transfers for younger siblings of a student meeting the criteria of a transfer will be granted only on a space available basis and only for the remainder of the older sibling’s final school year at that campus. A processing fee will be charged for these approved transfers.
- Grades 9-12: When an attendance zone is affected by a new boundary change at the high school level, additional processes will be put into place as it relates to High School students who are currently enrolled and their siblings who are affected by the boundary changes.
13. Are full time employees of KISD permitted to apply for a transfer for their children?
- Full time employees living inside the KISD boundary are allowed to request a student transfer to a campus where space is available. A full time employee’s request for a student transfer to his/her campus of employment will be honored unless the transfer creates the need for a class size waiver, a portable building or an additional teacher. Qualifying criteria will be considered. If the full time employee living inside KISD is not requesting a transfer to the campus in which they are employed, then the requested campus must be an open campus.
- Full time employees living outside of the KISD boundary are allowed to request a student transfer into KISD to a campus where space is available (Open campus) or at the campus in which they are employed. They must follow the same transfer process as all other students with the understanding that qualifying criteria must be met for consideration. Transfers requests for students living outside of the KISD boundary must be submitted on an annual basis.
- Transfer requests submitted by full time employees are considered utilizing the same criteria as for all student transfers and are required to pay the $75.00 per child processing fee.
14. Are transfers for siblings permitted?
Transfers are allowed on a space available basis only. Transfer requests for siblings follow the same procedures as all other transfers. If space is not available for the sibling of a transfer student, then the parent must choose to either have the students attend different campuses or send the transfer student back to the home campus. A processing fee will be charged for each student on an approved transfer.
If a student is receiving special education services at a campus outside his or her attendance zone as determined by the ARD committee, a parent may request that any other student residing in the household be transferred to the same campus, if the appropriate grade level for the transferring student is offered on that campus. Transportation is not provided for the transfer student but a processing fee will not be charged for siblings of special education students (per Board policy) who are attending a campus for a program as determined by the ARD committee or for those who qualify for a bilingual program as determined through the LPAC committee.
15. If a student requests a transfer to attend a middle school outside of his or her attendance zone is he/she eligible to participate in Athletics?
Yes.
16. If a student requests a transfer to attend a middle school or high school outside of his or her attendance zone is he/she eligible to participate in Fine Arts and extracurricular activities?
Yes.
17. If a student requests a transfer to attend a middle school outside of his or her attendance zone is he/she eligible to participate in Cheerleading?
7th grade cheer is open to all interested students. 8th grade cheer is an activity that conducts tryouts. In order to be eligible to participate in 8th grade cheer the student must: Have a completed transfer application on file before tryouts. The student will be allowed to tryout at the school they are requesting a transfer to. If the student makes the squad but the transfer request is denied then the student may request an individual tryout at their assigned campus.
18. If the student requests a transfer to attend a high school outside of his or her attendance zone is he/she eligible to participate in Athletics?
Students would be eligible for sub-varsity sports but would be ineligible for varsity sports for one calendar year from the date of the transfer.
19. If a student requests a transfer to attend a high school outside of his or her attendance zone is he/she eligible to participate in Cheerleading or Drill Team?
Students that have a completed transfer request on file may try out for cheerleading or drill team at the high school campus they are requesting the transfer to. If the student makes the team but the transfer request is denied then the student may request a tryout/ audition at their assigned campus.
20. Can a student enrolled in a special program, such as students with disabilities, apply for a transfer?
Yes, but if the students’ ARD committee determines that a student needs a specialized instructional setting, the transfer will only be considered if the school in which the child will be transferred to offers the designated instructional setting determined by the ARD committee. Transfer requests for students identified for a special program are not considered by the ARD, SIT, or LPAC committees.
21. What happens if I move to a new home during the school year?
Students who move to another KISD campus attendance zone during the school year may request a transfer to remain in their current campus. A transfer may be granted until end of grading period, end of semester, end of year, or the completion of grades at the campus. A student must meet and maintain the qualifying criteria (See Question #3).
Students who complete their junior year in a Keller ISD school and then move out of the district may remain for their senior year with the approval of an administrative transfer request.
22. Can I request a transfer if my child isn’t currently enrolled in a KISD campus?
Parents of a new kindergarten student in KISD are permitted to request a student transfer if there is an extenuating need.
Students in grades 1-12 must be enrolled and attend school at a KISD campus for a minimum of one grading period before being eligible to apply for a student transfer. Again, transfers are approved based on extenuating need and transportation will not be provided.
23. Can a student transfer be revoked for a student not meeting criteria (i.e. excessive absences/truancy, failing grades, behavior problem)?
Yes. Student transfers may be revoked if the student does not:
- Obey all school rules and regulations as listed in the Keller ISD Student Code of Conduct.
- Attend school regularly with 90% attendance for the previous semester and the most recent grading period including tardies. They must arrive and depart on time every day.
- Maintain acceptable academic performance with a grade of 70 or better in all classes and a passing score on each segment of State Assessment.
It is important to note that the District will not hire additional staff, provide additional classroom space, or apply for a class size waiver in order to accommodate transfer students. Therefore, student transfers may be revoked if there are unexpected increases in student enrollment. Student transfers are revoked based on the date of the original transfer application (last in, first out). Processing fees will NOT be reimbursed for revoked transfers.
OUT-OF-DISTRICT TRANSFERS
(Transfers From Outside the District for Nonresident Students)
1. Under what circumstances may a non-resident student receive a transfer?
Only children of full time district employees are eligible for an out of district transfer.
Children of non-resident full-time district employees may be eligible to attend district schools, provided space is available and qualifying criteria is met. Employees’ children who come from out of the district would be required to follow UIL requirements.
Qualifying seniors are eligible for an out of district transfer. See question 18 above.
2. How do I initiate an out of district transfer for my child?
Out-of-district transfers are initiated by completing the online transfer application found at the bottom of this Web page. If a parent does not have access to the internet, access points for the purpose of completing the transfer form are available on all KISD campuses and at the Education Center.
3. Do I have to apply for an Out of District transfer every year?
Yes. Students residing outside of Keller ISD must submit an out of district transfer application each year and will be required to pay the processing fee of $75.00 annually. As a reminder, an approved transfer into a campus does not guarantee continuation throughout that campus’ feeder pattern and is based on space availability.
4. Can an out of district student transfer be revoked for non-attendance, poor grades, behavior problem, etc.?
Yes. Student transfers may be revoked if the student does not:
- Obey all school rules and regulations as listed in the Keller ISD Student Code of Conduct.
- Attend school regularly with 90% attendance for the previous semester and the most recent grading period including tardies. They must arrive and depart on time every day.
- Maintain acceptable academic performance with a grade of 70 or better in all classes and a passing score on each segment of State Assessment.
Processing fees will NOT be reimbursed for revoked transfers.
5. Is bus transportation provided?
No. All non-resident students who are allowed to enroll or who remain enrolled in the District are responsible for their own transportation to and from school.
Enter Student Transfer System using link below:
(https://knetapps.kellerisd.net/KISDStudentTransfers/)
List of Campuses At or Below Capacity