San Francisco unified school district
School Transfers/Change of Program
Eligibility / Transfers during the school year are disruptive for students and schools and will generally not be accepted. Transfers are not permitted after September except in limited circumstances:1. Change of address
2. Disciplinary action
3. Safety concerns
4. IEP Team-approved transfers for special education students
Change of Address / Parents/guardians who move within San Francisco may be allowed to transfer their children to a school closer to the new residence depending on space/program availability and, for special education, depending upon the student’s unique needs as set forth in the student’s IEP. EPC may refer the parent/guardian of the special education student to the student’s IEP Team. (See “IEP Team-Approved Transfers” below.)
Parents/guardians may submit a request for transfer based on Change of Address by completing a transfer request form and submitting it to the Educational Placement Center (EPC) at 555 Franklin Street, Room 100, telephone: 241-6085.
A picture ID of the parent/guardian and two proofs of the new address must accompany the Change of Address form. The two address proofs must contain the name and address of the parent/guardian and must be dated and current. Any two of the following are acceptable documents: a utility bill dated within 45 days, or a current automobile insurance policy and vehicle registration, homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, property tax statement, lease, or a letter mailed to parent/ guardian by a governmental agency (e.g. social services) dated within 45 days. These transfers will not be approved after April 15th.
Disciplinary Action / Students may be transferred through Student Support Services as a result of an expulsion hearing or counseling conference. If a special education student is transferred through Student Support Services as a result of an expulsion hearing or counseling conference, Student Support Services and the sending school will ensure that a copy of the student’s current IEP is faxed to the receiving school and that education records are forwarded promptly to the receiving school. If needed, the sending school will participate in an IEP at the receiving school within 30 days.
Safety Concerns / Transfer requests based on student safety concerns may be initiated at the school site by parent/guardian, by submitting a CWA form with a copy of the police report related to the safety issue, and copies of any supporting documentation from the school. Completed forms should be submitted to the school, which will forward the forms to Student Support Services at 555 Portola Drive, telephone: 695-5543. Student Support Services will determine whether a safety transfer is appropriate. If so, the student will be transferred to a school with space/program availability. If the student is a special education student, Student Support Services may refer the parent/guardian to the student’s IEP Team. (See “IEP Team-Approved Transfers” below.)
IEP Team- Approved Transfers
(Special Education) / For special education students, placement is determined through the IEP process. Change of placement for special education students may occur during the school year if the student’s IEP Team determines this to be appropriate for the student. Parents/guardians seeking a change of placement should request an IEP Team meeting through their child’s teacher. The teacher should convene an IEP meeting within 30 calendar days of the request, and contact their school’s Special Education Services Content Specialist for assistance.
Other Transfers / Change of Program (Language Immersion and Biliteracy Programs). Parents/guardians who wish to change their child into or out of a language program (e.g. change from the Spanish Biliteracy program to the general education program or vice versa), may submit a transfer request to EPC. EPC will review the request based on space/program availability, student’s grade level, and student’s language proficiency and/or needs.
Parents/guardians may submit a request for transfer based on Change of Program (Language Immersion and Biliteracy Programs) by completing a transfer request form and submitting it to the Educational Placement Center (EPC) at 555 Franklin Street, Room 100, telephone: 241-6085.
Inter-district Transfers. Requests from non-San Francisco residents for their child to attend SFUSD (i.e. Inter-district Transfer requests) must be reviewed by SFUSD’s Inter-District Transfer Committee. If the transfer request is approved, the student will be moved at the end of the semester.
Parents/guardians may submit a request for Inter-district Transfer into SFUSD by completing a transfer request form and submitting it to the Educational Placement Center (EPC) at 555 Franklin Street, Room 100, telephone: 241-6085.
An Inter-district Transfer, if granted, allows the student to attend SFUSD for one school year. A new request for Inter-district Transfer must be submitted to SFUSD for each school year. Please contact EPC for further information.
Probation Transfers. Juvenile Probation Department completes a “Request for Student School Placement or School Transfer” form, which is submitted to Student Support Services, 555 Portola Drive, to designated Program Administrator, with the exception of probation youth in out of-home (Foster Youth) placement, which will be referred directly to EPC.
Exit/WithdrawalProcedures / Any student who will be transferred within SFUSD schools should not be withdrawn by the school site. EPC will enter in all internal SFUSD transfers that involve Special Education students, change of program, inter-district transfers or change of address.
Transfers for safety or disciplinary action will be determined by the Student Support Services Department and will be entered into the SIS by the EPC.