Boundary Exception Transfers

Intra-district transfers occur when a student enrolls in a school other than the school designated by the location of his or her residence. Per Education Code 35160.5, the parents/guardians of any student who resides within district boundaries may apply to enroll their child in any district school, regardless of the location of residence within the district.

Due to limited capacity at schools within the district, it may not be possible to accommodate every intra-district transfer request. To ensure that the approval of transfer requests is made through a random, unbiased process that prohibits an evaluation of whether a student should be enrolled based upon the student’s academic or athletic performance, the district has implemented an open enrollment period.

The primary open enrollment window for the 2023/2024 school year begins on April 1, 2023 and runs through June 1, 2023. Intra-district requests received during this time will be processed in July and August. Applicants will be notified by mail of the status of their request no later than August 25. Every effort will be made to process transfer requests prior to the start of the school year, however it is not always possible due to the need to ensure that there is available capacity for students living within the school boundaries.  A secondary open enrollment window for the 2023/2024 school year begins on August 1, 2023 and runs through September 1, 2023.  Applicants will be notified by mail of the status of their request no later than September 29.

If more requests are received than can be accommodated, students will be selected by a random lottery with the exception of those granted priority placement as noted below.  Transfer requests that could not be accommodated will be placed on a waiting list should space become available later in the year.  Placements for the 2023/2024 school year will be made by September 29, 2023.  Any requests that cannot be placed by that date will be denied. Late applicants will not be added to the waiting list for the current year but must instead submit a transfer application during the next open enrollment window.

Transfer Priorities

1. A student enrolled in a district school designated by the California Department of Education as "persistently dangerous." (20 USC 7912; 5 CCR 11992)
2. A student who is a victim of a violent crime while on school grounds. (20 USC 7912)
3. A student who is a victim of an act of bullying committed by another district student, as determined through an investigation following the parent/guardian's submission of a written complaint with the school, district, or local law enforcement agency pursuant to Education Code 234.1 (Education Code 46600)
4. A student who is currently enrolled in a district school identified by CDE for comprehensive support and improvement, with priority given to the lowest academically achieving students from low-income families as determined pursuant to 20 USC 6313(a)(3) (20 USC 6311)
5. Upon a finding that special circumstances exist that might be harmful or dangerous to the student in the current attendance area. Special circumstances include, but are not limited to, threats of bodily harm or threats to the emotional stability of the student. Any such student may transfer to a district school that is at capacity and otherwise closed to transfers. To grant priority under these circumstances, the Superintendent or designee must have received either: (Education Code 35160.5)
    
   1. A written statement from a representative of an appropriate state or local agency, such as a law enforcement official, social worker, or a properly licensed or registered professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or marriage and family therapist
   2. A court order, including a temporary restraining order and injunction
6. Any sibling of a student already in attendance in that school.
7. Any student whose parent/guardian is assigned to that school as his/her primary place of employment.

• Intra-District Boundary Exception Request
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• Solicitud De Excepción De Linderos Entre El Distrito - 2023/2024
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Intra-District Open Enrollment Board Policy
Intra-District Open Enrollment Administrative Regulation

For questions, please contact Student Housing Technician Matt Cameron at 805-361-8278 or email boundary-exceptions@smbsd.net

Inter-district transfers occur when a student enrolls in a school outside of the district he or she resides in (district of residence). If a student resides within the boundaries of the Santa Maria-Bonita school district but would like to attend a school in a nearby district (district of attendance), an inter-district transfer request must be submitted. These requests are processed as they are received and transmitted to the district the student wishes to attend.

If a student resides outside of the district, but would like to attend a school within the Santa Maria-Bonita school district, a transfer request must be submitted to the student’s local district to first obtain permission to transfer to the Santa Maria-Bonita school district. The student’s local district will transmit the request to SMBSD for processing.  The primary open enrollment window for the 2023/2024 school year begins on February 1, 2023 and runs through April 1, 2023. Inter-district requests received during this time will be processed in July and August. Applicants will be notified by mail of the status of their request no later than August 25. Every effort will be made to process transfer requests prior to the start of the school year, however it is not always possible due to the need to ensure that there is available capacity for students living within the school boundaries.  A secondary open enrollment window for the 2023/2024 school year begins on August 1, 2023 and runs through September 1, 2023.  Applicants will be notified by mail of the status of their request no later than September 29.

The Superintendent or designee may deny initial requests for inter-district attendance permits due to limited district resources, overcrowding of school facilities at the relevant grade level, or other considerations that are not arbitrary. However, once a student is admitted, the district may not deny him/her continued attendance because of overcrowded facilities at the relevant grade level.

Inter-District Transfer Acceptance Criteria

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:

1. 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) (cf. 5131.2 - Bullying)
2. 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.
3. To meet the student's special mental or physical health needs as certified by a physician, school psychologist, or other appropriate school personnel. (cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
4. When the student has a sibling attending school in the receiving district, to avoid splitting the family's attendance.
5. To allow the student to complete a school year when his/her parents/guardians have moved out of the district during that year.
6. To allow the student to remain with a class graduating that year from an elementary, middle, or senior high school.
7. 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.
8. When the student will be living out of the district for one year or less.
9. 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. (cf. 51 13.1 - Chronic Absence and Truancy) (cf. 5113.12 - District School Attendance Review Board)
10. When there is valid interest in a particular educational program not offered in the district of residence.
11. To provide a change in school environment for reasons of personal and social adjustment.

• Inter-District Boundary Agreement
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• Acuerdo Sobre Los Linderos Entre Distritos
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Inter-District Attendance Board Policy
Inter-District Attendance Administrative Regulation

Inter-District Transfer Appeals Process

All denied inter-district transfer requests are subject to an appeals process:

1. The family first appeals in writing to the Santa Maria-Bonita School District Chief Business Official or designee within 15 calendar days of the transfer denial.  The appeal must state in detail the grounds for appeal.  No new information shall be considered outside of that which was considered by the Superintendent or designee in initially denying the inter-district transfer request.  A response to the family is given in writing within 30 calendar days of receiving the appeal.
   
   The appeal may be sent to the Chief Business Official via email at boundary-exceptions@smbsd.net or mailed to:
   
   Attn: CBO Inter-District Transfer Appeal
   Santa Maria-Bonita School District
   708 S Miller St
   Santa Maria, CA 93454
2. Upon denial of appeal the family has the right to appeal to the Santa Barbara County Board of Education.  The Santa Barbara County Education Office can be reached at 805-964-4711.

• You may appeal this decision, within 30 calendar days of the school district’s final denial. Failure to appeal within the required time is good cause for denial of an appeal. An appeal shall be accepted only upon verification by the county board's designee that appeals within the district have been exhausted.
• The county board of education shall, within 30 calendar days after the appeal is filed, determine whether the pupil should be permitted to attend in the district in which the pupil desires to attend and the applicable period of attendance.
   

For questions, please contact Student Housing Technician Matt Cameron at 805-361-8278 or email boundary-exceptions@smbsd.net