Oregon currently has four methods of transfer:
- Interdistrict Transfer
- Tuition
- Contract
- Enrollment in a public charter school
Interdistrict Transfer
Applicable Statutes and Rules:
A student may transfer between districts if the student receives consent to transfer from both the district of residence and the receiving district
A student may remain at their current school for a period of time following a move to a new district. If the student moves mid-year, the student may remain enrolled until the end of the year. If the student moves over the summer, the student may remain enrolled for the following school year.
A district may consider a transfer request outside of the district’s interdistrict transfer policy and procedures where a hardship exists. Hardship is defined in OAR 581-021-0019(1)(c).
Tuition
A student may enroll in a district other than their district of residence by paying tuition to the new district if the district accepts tuition paying students.
Contract
Applicable Statute:
ORS 339.125
Two districts may enter into a contract for the education of a group of students. An example of transfer by contract is where district A contracts with neighboring district B to provide grades 9-12 for high school students residing in district A.
Enrollment in a public charter school
Public charter schools may enroll students who live outside of the sponsoring district. Questions about enrollment procedures should be directed to the specific charter school.
Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment, enacted by the Oregon Legislature in 2011, created an additional option for students wishing to transfer between districts. The open enrollment statute contains a sunset provision, effective July 1, 2019.
What this means for districts and students:
- 2018-19 was the last school year for students to transfer under this law.
- Any student who transferred to a new district through open enrollment prior to the 2019-20 school year gets to stay in that district. The open enrollment statute contains language specifically stating that the sunset does not affect the status of a person who transferred via open enrollment prior to the 2019-20 school year.
- Because 2018-19 was the last year for transfer, districts should not go through the open enrollment procedure in the spring of 2019 and cannot enroll students through open enrollment in 2019-20.
The Legislature may choose to extend the sunset during the 2019 legislative session. However, until the Legislature takes action, the sunset is still in effect and districts may not enroll new students through open enrollment.