Inter/Intra District Transfers

Transfer FAQs

• General Transfer Questions
• Special Circumstances​​​​​​

 

General Transfer Questions

• How do I apply for a transfer?

  • The application will be on the website here: https://www.reynolds.k12.or.us/district/interintra-district-transfers

 

• When are transfer applications available?
  • Inter/Intra District transfer applications are available each Spring from May 1st – June 15^th to take effect at the beginning of the next school year. Intra District transfers (within Reynolds only) are available from November 15^th – December 31^st to take effect at the beginning of second semester.

 

• What is the difference between an Inter and Intra District transfer?
  • Inter District transfers are between two school districts. It is always a two-step process beginning with the home district for a release first. If the home district approves the Inter District transfer application, then the requested district will review the approval and confirm on their end whether it’s been fully approved, or not.
  • Intra District transfers are between Reynolds schools only, within the district. They are commonly referred to as Area Exception transfers.

 

• When will I hear back on a decision from my submitted transfer application?
  • Per Board Policy, JECB-AR, during the May 1^st – June 15^th application period, notifications to parents/guardians will be made by July 20^th.
  • During the November 15^th – December 31^st application period, notifications to parents/guardians will be made by January 20^th.

 

• I don’t want the transfer anymore, and I want to now get enrolled in my home Reynolds’ school, how do I do that?
  • You can enroll at your home school within Reynolds School District at any time. Please go to Online Enrollment here: https://www.reynolds.k12.or.us/district/online-enrollment.

 

• If my Inter District transfer application for release from Reynolds is approved, do you send the approval to the other district?
  • Yes, we send the approval letter to the requested district so they can follow-up and provide you an answer regarding the transfer on their end.

 

• If I was released by my home district (not Reynolds) and I need to be approved to attend a school within Reynolds School District, how do I get approved?
  • Reynolds’ Transfer Department works very closely with neighboring school districts. Once the other district releases to Reynolds, they will send the approval paperwork directly to: transfers@rsd7.net. Once the approval has been received from the student’s home district, the District Administrator approves or denies the request to attend a Reynolds’ school and the family is contacted on the decision.​​​​​

 

• Is transportation provided with an approved transfer?
  • No, transportation is not provided for Inter or Intra District transfer approvals.

 

• What are the requirements for a student whose Intra District transfer has been approved?
  • Satisfactory attendance must be maintained.
  • Satisfactory behavior must be maintained.
  • Student(s) must be dropped off and picked up on time each day. Parent is responsible for transportation to and from school.

 

• Do I need to reapply for a transfer before every school year? How long does a transfer last?
  • You do not need to reapply for a transfer every year. Transfer agreements are valid through the student’s high school graduation as long as the student stays enrolled at the approved school(s) the entire time.

​​​​

Special Circumstances

• Do I need to reapply for a transfer when my student goes from elementary to middle school or from middle to high school?
  • No, as long as the student maintains current enrollment at the schools they have been attending, they will continue to roll up to the next level and will not need to reapply when they begin to enter middle or high school.

 

• Do I need to apply for a transfer for my other students if I’ve already received an approval for the older sibling?
  • Yes, each individual student needs their own approved transfer.

 

• What happens if I move out of the school boundaries during the school year or summer?
  • You qualify for a mid-year move, which allows your student to stay enrolled in the school they have been attending through the rest of the current school year. Prior to the beginning of next school year, if you want your student to continue at the school they’ve been attending, you will need an approved Inter or Intra District transfer. You can also enroll your student in their new home school at any point. Your student will not receive transportation if they are a mid-year or summer move as they are residing outside of the district or school’s boundaries.
  • A summer/mid-year move is any move that takes place after July 1 as that is when a new school year starts. If you move anytime after July 1 during that school year, you are a summer/mid-year move. Once the current school year ends on June 30, before the next school year begins you will need to either have an approved transfer to continue attending the same school or enroll at your new home school that you live in the boundaries for.

 

• How can I look up my school of residence?
  • The boundary map for Reynolds School District is located here.
  • If you currently live outside of the boundaries for Reynolds School District, you can check your address and your home school using Portland Maps (not always 100% accurate, so double check with the other district’s boundary map on their website to confirm).

​​​​​

• Do I need an approved transfer if I have housing instability and/or am a McKinney-Vento Family?
  • Any family that is experiencing housing instability that qualifies under McKinney-Vento can continue to attend the current school in the district the student has last been attending for continuity, even if where the family has unstable housing out of the school or district boundaries.
  • Once a family finds permanent housing, they are treated like a mid-year/summer move and can continue to attend school through the remainder of the current school year. Prior to the beginning of the next school year, they then need an approved Inter or Intra District transfer or enroll at their new home school.

 

• Do I need an approved transfer if my students are foster children?
  • No, foster children can attend their school of origin that they have been continually attending without an approved transfer. The district also has an obligation per state regulations to provide transportation even if they reside outside of the school and district boundaries.

 

• If the parents have separate addresses, do we need a transfer to have our student attend the home school within the boundaries for only one of the parent’s addresses?
  • In a shared custody arrangement, the student can use either parent’s address without a transfer. A transfer is required when a school is requested outside of those two home schools or districts.

 

• • If the transfer application is closed, but I currently have a hardship and need a transfer, what do I do?
    • Prior to contacting your school, it’s important to review the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 581-021-0019 definitions of a hardship:
      • The student is impacted by a parent or guardian’s military deployment;
      • The student is experiencing instability related to homelessness or foster care placement;
      • The student has a documented medical condition that necessitates transfer;
      • Death of a student’s parent;
      • The student does not have access to safe and affordable childcare in the resident district; or
      • The student is involved in a documented case of severe harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyberbullying (please note: any allegation of bullying will need to be investigated by the school administrator and have the incident(s) on file, which may take longer to follow up on).
         
  • What is the Right to Return with Portland Public Schools (PPS)? How do I apply?
    • Right to Return is an enrollment opportunity for students whose families have been harmed by urban renewal practices in North/Northeast Portland. Families who were displaced from North/Northeast Portland neighborhoods but wish to have their children attend schools in this area can be approved for transfer through a single application, even if they reside in a different school district. Approved students would not have to reapply to remain in PPS. Transportation would not be included.
    • The program is generally based upon the City of Portland’s North/Northeast Housing Priority, which provides housing opportunities for families who have been harmed by urban renewal practices in North/Northeast Portland.
    • PPS will use the map developed by the City of Portland in its Housing Priority program.
    • Reynolds School District has a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PPS for Reynolds’ students to be able to apply for a Right to Return Transfer. For more information and to access the application for Right to Return to PPS, please go here.
    • The application for Right to Return will be open from March 1 to September 15 each year. Families only need to apply with PPS and be approved by PPS. Reynolds will not be involved in the acceptance or denial of the student to PPS in any way.
       
  • If my student has been placed by the Special Education Department at a different school in the district than the student’s home school, do I need to apply for an Intra District transfer for my student to continue attending the Special Education placement school?
    • No, Special Education placements do not need a transfer to continue attending the school outside of their home school boundaries. If the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) states that transportation is required for the student, then they will receive transportation even though they are attending a school outside of their home school’s boundaries.
      
      
       
  • What is the guidance on Inter District transfers for high school athletes?
    • OSAA rules also require approval by both the sending and receiving high school principals, and approved by the Superintendent's Office.  Student eligibility is subject to OSAA guidelines. OSAA Constitution and Rules provide that any student who attends a high school as a result of undue influence may become ineligible and the high school could be subject to penalties.
      
       
  •  
• Is Reynolds above the 3% cap for Virtual Charter School enrollments and are you currently denying?
  • No, Reynolds School District is not currently above the 3% cap for Virtual Charter School enrollments. Therefore, Reynolds is not denying requests to Virtual Charter Schools.