Transfer Requests

The North Kitsap School District typically assigns students to their local neighborhood school. However, parents or guardians may request to have their child transferred to a different school within our district.

All transfers are approved on a yearly basis and must be renewed annually to remain in a school of choice.

Please note that all transfers must be renewed annually as they are approved on a year-to-year basis. This is because student enrollment varies each year, and we must verify that there is sufficient space before approving any transfer requests. Priority is given to those already enrolled in the district, and any additional transfers are considered on a 'first come, first served' basis. Exceptions to this rule are programs exclusive to specific schools, where students must attend that school to participate in the program.

For families granted transfers to their school of choice, it's important to remember that they will need to organize their child's transportation. This can be done either by driving their child to school or by contacting our Transportation Department to arrange for a bus stop within the school's boundaries.

To maintain stability in our enrollment and staffing, and to prevent unnecessary disappointments during the appeals process, elementary and middle schools will not be accepting new transfer requests for the upcoming year. However, should circumstances change, and we find ourselves with additional flexibility, we may reconsider this decision.

Exceptions to this rule include:

• Students who already have siblings enrolled in the requested school.
• Current elementary students who wish to continue with their school's feeder pattern into middle school.
• Children of full-time school employees, as per RCW 28A.225.225.

Important Transfer Request Information:

Transfer Request Period: Parents and guardians have the opportunity to submit requests for student transfers from April 1, 2024, to April 30, 2024. This is the designated window when we will be accepting applications for the upcoming academic year. We encourage you to apply within this timeframe to ensure your request is considered.

Notification of Decisions: All parents and guardians who submit a transfer request can expect to receive a decision regarding their child's transfer status by May 15, 2024. We understand the importance of these decisions in your planning for the next academic year and commit to communicating outcomes as swiftly as possible.

School Currently Closed due to Capacity

• Poulsbo Elementary
• Richard Gordon Elementary
• Vinland Elementary
• Poulsbo Middle School

• In-District Requests
• Choice Transfer Request
• Non-Resident Admission
• Home-Based Instruction

In-District Requests

The North Kitsap School District offers an In-District Transfer process, allowing parents/guardians to request that their child attend a school outside their designated neighborhood zone. This request is more likely to be granted if submitted during the Online Registration or Student Check-In period each spring, which typically takes place from the Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences through the end of April. This timeline helps the district plan staffing and classroom capacities efficiently.

For families with currently enrolled students:

1. Check to see which schools are accepting in-district transfers by check the "Schools Currently Closed Due to Capacity" section on this webpage.
2. Email District Records to request an In-District Transfer Form for your student(s).
3. The District Records Department will inform you when the Form is accessible through your Skyward Family Access.
4. Login and select Online Forms from the left menu. Follow the provided instructions to fill out the In-District Transfer application for the upcoming school year.

For additional information or assistance, including locations for family-use computers, alternative application methods, or other queries, please call 360-396-3098.

Additional information/guidelines:

1. In-district Transfer Requests are granted for no more than one school year under the guidelines of North Kitsap District Policy 3131. Enrollment priority is given to students living within the attendance area boundaries of each school. Exceptions involve programs located only at specific schools where students enrolled in the program must attend in order to participate.
2. Principals must ensure that a balance is maintained among grade levels at each school by carefully tracking enrollment patterns. A district administrator facilitates the process by working closely with building principals/designees to coordinate transfer decisions.
3. A conference with a building principal may be required in some cases prior to a final placement decision. Transfer requests are considered on the following basis:
   • Potential benefits for the student requesting the transfer
   • Classroom capacity
   • Program capacity and/or availability
   • An assessment of the degree of risk to the health/safety of the student and others if the transfer is approved
4. Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing transportation.
5. Transfers are granted for one school year. There is no assurance that a transfer request will be approved in subsequent years.
6. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to ensure that any conflicts related to the conditions of legally decreed parenting plans and/or court orders are resolved prior to the time the transfer request is considered for approval. After approval, any copies of parenting plans and/or court orders must be provided to the school where the student is or will be attending.
7. A transfer may be revoked during the school year when in the judgment of the principal the student is not benefiting from the transfer and/or creating a substantial obstacle to the opportunities of other students to learn in an environment free of unnecessary disruptions.
8. If a transfer request is denied or revoked, the parent/guardian may appeal by asking the superintendent to review the decision.

Choice Transfer Request

If you're a resident within the North Kitsap School District (NKSD) boundary and would like your student to attend a school outside of NKSD, including online programs, please follow the link below to access the Choice Transfer Request portal:

Non-Resident Admission

If a student lives outside the North Kitsap School District but wishes to attend a school within the district, they can apply for a Non-Resident transfer. These applications are processed after accommodating all in-district transfers and only approved if there's available space.

To begin the process, the parent(s)/guardian(s) or adult student should request a Choice Student Transfer Agreement from their home district. Please follow the link below to access the Choice Transfer Request portal to submit your Non-Resident Transfer Release:

After completing the Choice Transfer Request, the next step involves enrolling as a new student or family within the North Kitsap School District. Start by requesting a new account and then follow the outlined steps to complete the pre-registration application online. During this process, it's essential to fill out the Non-Resident Admission form, which forms part of the pre-registration application. Upon approval, parents will receive a notification via email.

For non-residents of the North Kitsap School District, please note the following:

• Preference is given to students who are residents of the North Kitsap School District and to the children of full-time North Kitsap School District certificated and classified staff.
• Schools that are closed due to capacity constraints cannot accept transfer students from outside the district.
• Non-resident students must reapply for admission annually and acceptance is subject to the same criteria as new applicants. Continued enrollment for non-resident students is not guaranteed and may be declined due to factors such as over-enrollment, chronic absences, poor academic performance, or persistent disruptive behavior and misconduct.
• All students applying to the District are assessed using the same standards. However, non-resident students with a satisfactory track record from the previous year in terms of achievement, attendance, and citizenship are given preference for re-enrollment in the subsequent year.
• A student who relocates out of the District doesn't inherently retain the right to continue schooling within the District, even if the rules of the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association permit them to continue participating in NKSD athletics. Any student who shifts away from the District must inform the School District within 5 days and apply to remain in the District's schools. They will then be subjected to the same guidelines applicable to all transfer students. If their request is rejected, the parent(s)/guardian(s)/adult student will be notified about their right to appeal under RCW 28A.225.230(3).

Home-Based Instruction

Under Washington State law RCW 28A.225.010 and RCW 28A.200, homeschooling is permissible if it involves structured and supervised educational activities, including a curriculum that covers basic skills in occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, as well as an understanding of art and music. The instruction must align with the total annual program hours per grade level set for approved private schools as per RCW 28A.195.010 and RCW 28A.195.040.

These educational activities can be:

1. Led by a parent teaching only their child, supervised by a certified professional. In this context, "certified professional" refers to a person certified under chapter 28A.410 RCW, while "supervised by a certified professional" denotes regular planning between the professional and the parent towards clear learning objectives, at least one hour of contact per week with the child on average, and an evaluation of the child's progress by the professional. The maximum number of children one professional can supervise under these conditions is thirty.
2. Provided by a parent teaching only their child, who has completed forty-five college-level quarter credit hours or its equivalent in semester hours or finished a course in homeschool instruction at a postsecondary institution or a vocational-technical institute.
3. Facilitated by a parent deemed capable of providing homeschool instruction by the superintendent of the child's local school district.

As per RCW 28A.195.010, any parent or legal guardian intending to homeschool their child or children, rather than enrolling them in public school, an approved private school, or an extension program of an approved private school, must file a yearly declaration of intent.

The Declaration of Intent to Homeschool must be filed annually by September 15 or within two weeks of the beginning of any public school quarter, trimester, or semester. This form must be returned to North School District's District Records Department at 18360 NE Caldart Avenue; Poulsbo, WA 98370 or via email

• Home Based Instruction - Annual Declaration of Intent - Full Time
• Home Based Instruction - Annual Declaration of Intent - Part Time

Resources

Related Policies and Procedures

• Policy 3120 - Enrollment
• Procedure 3120P - Enrollment
• Policy 3131 - Transfers
• Procedure 3131P - Transfers
• Policy 3140 - Release of Resident Students
• Policy 3141 - Non Resident Students
• Procedure 3141P - Non Resident Students