TCSS releases HB251 school transfer options for 2024-2025

The period to apply for Troup County School System 2024-2025 Public Choice Schools is open. Public Choice Schools is an option for parents, guardians and Georgia teachers to request the transfer of their child from one Troup County Public School to another for the upcoming school year.

The program was enacted in 2009 under House Bill 251. As stated in a TCSS press release, “Before a transfer is allowed, the district must determine that classroom space is available that teacher allocations at the school are appropriate and all assigned students have been enrolled and scheduled.”

Parents or guardians can obtain an application by visiting www.troup.org or by going by the Office of Student Assignment located at 100 N Davis Road Building C in LaGrange. The application period will run from June 5 through June 27. All applications and supporting documentation must be received by June 27; mailed applications and documents must be postmarked by June 27. If the application is accepted, the child will be enrolled in the choice school for the 2024-2025 school year.

This year the classroom space available to students is as follows:

• Berta Weathersbee Elementary K, 3rd, 4th, 5th
• Callaway Elementary 4th
• Clearview Elementary K, 4th, 5th
• Ethel Kight Elementary 4th
• Franklin Forest Elementary 5th
• Hogansville Elementary K, 2nd, 4th, 5th
• Hollis Hand Elementary 4th, 5th
• Long Cane Elementary 5th
• Rosemont Elementary K, 4th
• West Point Elementary 1st, 5th
• High school transfer applications will be approved on class-size capacity by grade and subject.

Troup County School System released an information guide for parents and guardians, it reads:

1. Travel Reimbursements and/or District transportation will NOT be offered by the Troup County School System. Parents must provide transportation and incur all costs associated with transporting students if the student is selected to attend an HB 251 school. Parents/guardians choosing this option assume all costs associated with transporting the child to and from the selected school.
2. Parents may obtain applications online at www.troup.org or by visiting the Office of Student Assignment located at 100 North Davis Road Building C, LaGrange, Georgia 30240. Summer office hours: Monday – Thursday from 7 a.m. To 5:30 p.m.
3. All applicants must reside within the Troup County School District or be employees of the Troup County School System and residents of the State of Georgia. Applicants must provide valid proof of residence (i.e. mortgage, lease, current utility bill-gas, electric, or home telephone).
4. For the 2024-2025 school year, all applications and supporting documentation must be received by June 27, 2024. All mailed applications and supporting documentation must be postmarked by June 27, 2024.
5. Instructional capacity is used to determine the number of available seats in a school and grade level. Instructional capacity is defined as the number of classes offered in a grade level based on the number of teachers earned and students enrolled according to state funding formulas and maximum class size requirements.
6. If the number of applications exceeds the projected number of open seats for any or all schools and grade levels, a lottery (random selection process), open to the public, will be conducted. Parents selected to enroll in a school with available seats will be notified through U.S. Mail.
7. Each applicant will have an opportunity to apply for a first, second, and third-choice site. All lotteries will be based on the applicant’s first choice. The second/third choices will be considered if the number of applicants does not exceed the number of student replacements in the first-choice sites.
8. Parents who choose to accept placement for their child through HB 251 will be allowed to continue enrollment of their child in that school through the highest grade level only. Students will not automatically receive an enrollment preference in the middle or high feeder school.
9. Students selected to fill available seats will be offered placement in writing. Parents must enroll their child by the date listed on the approval letter or forfeit the seat.
10. In accordance with guidelines from the State of Georgia, schools with available space will not be required to offer programs for Individualized Education Plans (IEP) or Individualized Accommodation Plans (IAP) if the program is not currently provided at that particular location.
11. There will be no sibling priority with the exception of a student of a multiple birth who is selected for a seat. The sibling or siblings of the multiple birth students will be drawn simultaneously during the lottery. If a seat is available, the other sibling(s) will receive placement.
12. Any student transferring under this law shall be subject to the eligibility requirements of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA).
13. No transfer to or from The HOPE Academy shall be considered or approved.
14. Any provision in this law or state board rules pursuant of this law shall not override federal requirements. Consideration and notification of transfer requests will be made as promptly as possible but may be made after the beginning of the school year when final enrollment has been calculated along with proximity zone assignments and requests, class size and teacher allocation. Until a determination is made the student should attend their currently assigned school.

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