House Bill 251 - Public School Choice (2012 – 2013)

Parent Notification – June 4, 2012

HB251 Parent Notice (Full Text)

Beginning June 11, HB251 transfer applications will be available at the Welcome Center (2003 Riverside Drive) and here.

Transfer Request Form

From June 11 – June 29, applications may be mailed or hand delivered to the Welcome Center located at 2003 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA 31204. Applications must be post marked on or before June 29. Late submissions will not be accepted.

As the parent or guardian of a student currently enrolled in the Bibb County School District, we are notifying you of House Bill 251 (HB251), a law signed by Governor Perdue in 2009 that allows parents of K-12 public school students in Georgia the opportunity to enroll their child in designated schools within the local school district in which they now reside.

Under this state law, parents may request to transfer their child to another public school in the district for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year “if such school has classroom space available after its assigned students have been enrolled.”

The Bibb County School District will determine “space available” in accordance with the capacity calculations approved by the United States District Court in the case of Adams, et al. v. Board of Education. Portable classrooms are not included in the calculations.

This law requires that the District provide notification of schools which have “space available” by July 1. However, final enrollment numbers cannot be determined until current and new students living in the zone have been enrolled for the new academic year.

In addition, other transfer provisions already in place must be included in the final determination of enrollment. These include:

• Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (SB10)
• Children of school-based employee transfers
• Continuation of existing transfers
• Selection processes for Magnet Programs
• Provisions for accommodating twins
• Provisions for accommodating siblings of special education students

NOTE:

If a parent requests a transfer to a school that does not have the services required by the current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP), the district is not required to develop those services as long as they are available within the local school district. To determine the availability of specific services, contact the Program for Exceptional Children at 478-765-8709.

Any high school student transferring under this law is still subject to the eligibility requirements of the Georgia High School Association. The student must verify eligibility with the District Athletic Office at 478-765-8550 to determine if a transfer will result in the loss of eligibility.

Preliminary List of Schools Eligible to Accept HB251 Transfers

The Bibb County School District will determine “space available” in accordance with the capacity calculation approved by the United States District Court in the case of Adams, et al. v. Board of Education. Portable classrooms are not included in the calculations.

The following preliminary list indicates which schools may have space available. Accounting for student enrollment at the beginning of the year and the status of other transfers, availability may change.

Preliminary List of Schools Not Accepting HB251 Transfers

Schools with a Magnet Program

Based on their established application and selection process, the following schools will not be accepting HB251 transfers. Magnet applications will be available in November 2012 for the 2013/2014 school year.

Transfer Application Process & Timeline

Below is the timeline for transfer applications under No Child Left Behind and HB251.

Beginning June 11, HB251 transfer applications will be available at the Welcome Center (2003 Riverside Drive) and the district web site (www.bibb.k12.ga.us).

From June 11 – June 29, applications may be mailed or hand delivered to the Welcome Center located at 2003 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA 31204. Applications must be post marked on or before June 29. Late submissions will not be accepted.

A lottery will be held (TBA) to select 251 transfers at the Welcome Center located at 2003 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA 31204.

Parents will then be notified of the status of their HB251 transfer request. Students receiving 251 transfers will be given a period of time (TBA) to accept the transfer. After the given time period the transfer is no longer applicable and the student must remain at their zoned school. There is no waiting list for HB251.

Transfer Application Timeline

Transfer Provisions

Parents/Guardians who are interested in applying for a transfer under HB251 should be aware of the following provisions:

• Students in grades 1st through 12th must be enrolled in the Bibb County School District and in attendance for at least 10 school days in order to be eligible to request a HB251 transfer;

• A parent/guardian can choose to apply for a transfer to another public school in the same school district as long as there is classroom space available at the school after its assigned students have been enrolled. Once capacity is reached at a school, additional transfers will not be accepted at that school;

• If a parent elects to exercise this choice option, the parent assumes all costs associated with transporting the child to and from the selected school;

• A student who transfers to another school pursuant to this law may, at his or her election, continue to attend such school until the student completes all grades of the school.

• Students eligible for transfer under the unsafe school choice option (not applicable for Bibb County) will be given first priority for available seats at designated schools;

• If a parent requests a transfer to a school that does not have the services required by the current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP), the district is not required to develop those services as long as they are available within the local school district. To determine the availability of specific services, contact the Program for Exceptional Children at 478-765-8709.

• Any high school student transferring under this law is still subject to the eligibility requirements of the Georgia High School Association. The student must verify eligibility with the District Athletic Office at 478-765-8550 to determine if a transfer will result in the loss of eligibility;

• A student who transfers to another school under this law may continue to attend that school until the student completes all grades of the school. However, a transferring student who completes all grades available at the receiving school will not be automatically eligible to attend the feeder middle or high school. A new transfer application must be submitted.