Student Reassignment

In Howard County, students attend the school in their school attendance area based on their family’s bona fide residence, as defined by Policy 9000 Student Residency, Eligibility, Enrollment and Assignment. Learn more about student residency.

Student Reassignment is the process by which a parent/guardian can request enrollment at a school that is not located in the school attendance area for their bona fide residence.

There are four categories of student reassignment: Relocation; Build, Buy, or Lease; Hardship; and Employee. Before completing a Student Reassignment Request Form, please read the student reassignment FAQs carefully.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about student reassignment

A student must be enrolled and attending school in HCPSS before requesting reassignment.

Questions regarding student’s bona fide residency must be resolved before reassignment can be considered.

A determination will be issued within 45 school (business) days from the date the student reassignment request form and supporting documentation are received.

Reasons for Reassignment

Option 1: Relocation

All families are required to report a change of address to their current school(s) within 10 school (business) days of a move, regardless of whether the move is within the same attendance area, into a new area, or out of the county.

Moving During the School Year

If a student has a change of bona fide residence on or after the first day of the school year and moves out of their current attendance area, they have the following options:

Transfer: Enroll in the school serving the new attendance area at the time of the move.
Complete the School Year: Submit a reassignment request under the relocation category to finish the current school year at their current school.

Note: Relocation approvals are valid for the current school year only. The student must attend the school in their new attendance area the following school year.
Exception: Students who have achieved Junior Status at the time of the move may be eligible to remain through graduation.

Moves Out of Howard County: If a family moves out of the county after the start of the school year, tuition will be assessed from the date of the move through the end of the school year.
Summer Moves: Families who move during the summer prior to the start of the school year are not eligible for a relocation reassignment and must enroll in their newly assigned school, unless the student achieved Junior Status at the time of the move.

Required documentation:

Relocation reassignment requests are available for moves occurring on or after the first day of school. To be considered for a relocation reassignment, the following steps must be completed:

Residency Verification: A Change of Address Form and new residency documents (e.g., a signed deed or lease and utility bill) must be provided to the current school for residency verification.
Eligibility Review: Once the current school has received and reviewed the new residency documentation, the school will offer a Relocation-Student Reassignment Request Form (R-SRRF) to eligible families. If a student is not eligible for relocation, the school will assist the family with the transfer to the new school.
Submission: After the school receives the completed and signed R-SRRF, school staff will forward the request form to the Office of Pupil Personnel Services on behalf of the family.

Conditions of a Reassignment Approval Under the Relocation Category:

Transportation

A move within Howard County: Transportation will not be provided by HCPSS unless transportation is included in a student’s IEP or 504 plan.

A move out of Howard County: Transportation will not be provided by HCPSS.

Extracurricular Eligibility

A reassigned student is eligible for participation in extracurricular activities subject to Policy 9070 Academic Eligibility for High School Extracurricular Activities.

Length of Reassignment Approval

Approval under the relocation category is valid for the current school year only. Exceptions are granted to students who achieved Junior status at the time of their move.

Tuition

A move out of county: Tuition will be assessed for days in attendance, or from the date of a family’s move out of the county through the end of the current school year.

Attendance

A reassigned student may be returned to their designated school at any time during the school year if they do not meet attendance expectations as described in the HCPSS Student Code of Conduct and Policy 9010 – Attendance. Such a decision is made by the current principal in consultation with the Director of Schools, after a review process has been applied, and proper notification to the student, parents, and the principal of the designated school.

Option 2: Buy/Build/Lease

Families are able to enroll in a new school attendance area if they will be moving into a new home within 90 calendar days from the first day of attendance (e.g., the first day of school). If the student is not in the projected home within this 90-day window, an extension may be granted and/or tuition may be assessed. (Note: Only non-resident students—those currently living outside of Howard County—are required to pay tuition under this circumstance).

Processing Timeline:

Reassignment requests based on contracts to build, buy or lease a home in a different school attendance area are accepted and processed as follows:

For the Current 2025–2026 School Year: Requests continue to be accepted and processed within 45 school days of receipt.
For the Upcoming 2026–2027 School Year: Requests will be accepted and processed beginning July 10, 2026.

November 22, 2026

A determination will be issued within 45 school (business) days from the date your request form is received. Please note that missing supporting documentation may delay this timeline.

Required documentation:

All documentation must verify that you will move into the new home within 90 calendar days of the student’s first day of attendance.

Please scan and email all supporting documentation as a PDF to residency@hcpss.org.

Build/Buy/Lease-Student Reassignment Request Form (B-SRRF)

For the Current 2025–2026 School Year: Requests for the current year continue to be accepted using the 2025-2026 B-SRRF.
For the Upcoming 2026–2027 School Year: The 2026–2027 B-SRRF will be linked here on July 10, 2026, when the new application window opens.

Please note that requests for the 2026–2027 school year will not be accepted or processed prior to July 10th.

For Home Purchases: A copy of the signed Sales Contract that includes a confirmed settlement date.

For New Construction: A signed contract and a New Construction Verification Form from the builder verifying the projected occupancy date.

For Leases: A copy of the fully executed Lease Agreement signed by both the parent (tenant) and the landlord/property manager.

Proof of Current Residence: Documentation of your current residence while awaiting the move (e.g., deed/lease and most recent utility bill, hotel receipts, or AirBnB/VRBO receipts).

Intent to Vacate: Documentation of your plan to leave your current residence (e.g., a signed Contract of Sale, a notice of intent to vacate from a leasing office, or a lease termination agreement).

Conditions of a Reassignment Approval Under the Build/Buy/Lease Category:

Transportation

Current Howard County residents planning to move within the county: Transportation will not be provided by HCPSS unless transportation is included in a student’s IEP or 504 plan.

Nonresidents planning to move into Howard County: Transportation will not be provided by HCPSS while the family is living out of county waiting to move into their new home.

Extracurricular Eligibility

A reassigned student is eligible for participation in extracurricular activities subject to Policy 9070 Academic Eligibility for High School Extracurricular Activities.

Length of Reassignment Approval

Approval under the build/buy/lease category is valid for 90 calendar days.

Tuition

Nonresidents planning to move into Howard County: If an extension to the original 90 calendar day reassignment approval is granted, tuition will be assessed beginning on the first day of the extension.

Attendance

Option 3: Hardship

In rare circumstances, the Office of Pupil Personnel Services may grant individual exceptions to the student reassignment standards based on documented unique hardship situations.

Application Windows

For the Current 2025–2026 School Year: The application window for the current year is closed.

For the Upcoming 2026–2027 School Year: There are two application windows, listed below. Note that requests submitted outside these windows will not be accepted or processed.

First Application Window: April 1, 2026 – June 15, 2026
Second Application Window: October 1, 2026 – February 15, 2027

Processing Timeline

When submitted within a designated window, a determination will be issued within 45 school (business) days from the date the request is submitted.

Please ensure all required documentation is included at the time of submission. Reassignments are reviewed based on the information provided; missing documentation may result in a denial of the request.

Important Enrollment Note: Students must be enrolled and attending school in their currently designated HCPSS school while awaiting a reassignment determination.

The Decision-Making Process

Decisions to grant reassignment in this category are made through consultation with school-based staff as well as consultation with any Central Office departments relevant to the request (e.g., Office of Psychological Services; Office of Health Services; Office of Student Supports and Engagement).

When an extraordinary hardship meets the criteria for an exception, the Office of Pupil Personnel Services will determine the school assignment based on factors such as school capacity and geographic proximity to the student’s residence.

Important Considerations Before Applying

Student reassignment is a specific process. Before submitting a request, please ensure you have addressed your concerns through the appropriate channels:

School-Level Resolution: All concerns must begin as a school-level discussion. You must have documented attempts to reach a resolution before requesting reassignment. Please visit the Parent Advocacy Page to determine if reassignment is the appropriate process to address your concern.
Bullying & Harassment: These matters are handled directly by the school. To report an incident, please complete the reporting form.
Special Education / Section 504: The Reassignment Office does not address IEP or 504 concerns (e.g., placement, accommodations, or implementation). Please contact your school administration and case manager regarding these matters.
Safety or Staff Concerns: For immediate safety concerns or issues involving school-based staff, please follow the Formal Concern Process.

Key Elements for Hardship Requests

To be considered for an exception, a submission must demonstrate a documented, unique hardship through:

Substantiation of Unique Hardship: Evidence that clearly explains your specific concerns and provides proof of the unique hardship.
Evidence of Prior Resolution Attempts: Documentation showing that reasonable efforts were made to resolve the concern with appropriate school-based staff and that those efforts were unsuccessful.

Providing this information allows for a thorough review; however, documentation of a hardship does not ensure an approved reassignment.

Required documentation:

To be considered for a hardship reassignment, the following documentation is required during an active application window. Please scan and email all documentation as a PDF to residency@hcpss.org.

Hardship Student Reassignment Request Form (H-SRRF)

For the Current 2025–2026 School Year: The application window is closed.
For the Upcoming 2026–2027 School Year: The 2026–2027 H-SRRF will become available on April 1, 2026, when the new application window opens.

Supporting Documentation

Please provide specific evidence that applies to your request:

Mental Health or Medical Hardship: A completed Recommendation Form from a licensed healthcare provider or mental health professional.

Documentation must include a diagnosis, treatment plan, and a clear explanation of why a school transfer is medically or therapeutically necessary.

Student Conflict: Evidence of documented incidents and prior attempts to resolve the conflict with school administration.

Examples include, but are not limited to: a principal’s official complaint outcome letter, police reports (if applicable), or a copy of the Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form.

Other Unique or Family Hardship: A detailed narrative from the parent/guardian and official supporting records (e.g., legal records, military orders, or other verifiable documentation of the unique hardship).

Evidence of Prior Resolution Attempts

In all cases, you must provide documentation showing that reasonable efforts were made to resolve the concern with appropriate school-based staff and that those efforts were unsuccessful.

Note: Please do not request letters of support from school-based staff. The Office of Pupil Personnel Services will contact the school directly for feedback if appropriate.

Conditions of a Reassignment Approval Under the Hardship Category:

Transportation

Transportation will not be provided by HCPSS unless transportation is included in a student’s IEP or 504 plan.

Extracurricular Eligibility

A reassigned student is eligible for participation in extracurricular activities subject to Policy 9070 Academic Eligibility for High School Extracurricular Activities.

Length of Reassignment Approval

Approval under the hardship category is valid for that current school level unless noted otherwise on the approval letter. A reassigned student does not need to reapply for reassignment for that same school on a yearly basis except as noted elsewhere. However, reassignment decisions will be subject to annual review.

Attendance

Option 4: Employee

Eligible HCPSS employees who are parents (as defined by Policy 9000) may request a school reassignment for their child as an employee benefit. This benefit is available to HCPSS employees with a 0.5 or greater full-time equivalent (FTE) status.

Reassignment Options

Upon approval, a student may enroll at:

The parent’s assigned work location (if the parent works at a school site).
Another school within the same cluster as the parent’s work location.

Please refer to this Reference Guide to identify the available options based on your work location.

Non-Residents: For employees living outside of Howard County, tuition is assessed. The Board of Education determines yearly tuition rates every July. Please contact residency@hcpss.org for current tuition rates and payment information.

Application Windows

For the Current 2025–2026 School Year: Requests for the current year continue to be accepted.
For the Upcoming 2026–2027 School Year: Requests will be accepted and processed beginning on the following dates:

Howard County Residents: May 15, 2026
Non-Residents: July 10, 2026

Important Note: The July 10 start date for non-residents is a change from previous years.

Required documentation:

For the Current 2025–2026 School Year

Requests for the current year continue to be accepted. 2025-2026 E-SRRF.

For the Upcoming 2026–2027 School Year

Howard County Residents: The 2026–2027 E-SRRF will be linked here on May 15, 2026, when the new application window opens.
Non-Residents: The 2026–2027 E-SRRF and Intent to Pay Form will be linked here on July 10, 2026, when the new application window opens.

Conditions of a Reassignment Approval Under the Employee Category:

Transportation

For residents: Transportation will not be provided by HCPSS unless transportation is included in a student’s IEP or 504 plan.
For nonresidents: Transportation will not be provided by HCPSS.

Extracurricular Eligibility

A reassigned student is eligible for participation in extracurricular activities subject to Policy 9070 Academic Eligibility for High School Extracurricular Activities.

Length of Reassignment Approval

Howard County Resident students: Approval under the employee category is valid for that current school level unless noted otherwise on the approval letter. A reassigned student does not need to reapply for reassignment for that same school on a yearly basis except as noted elsewhere. However, reassignment decisions will be subject to annual review.

Non-Howard County resident students: Approval under the employee category is valid for that current school year only. Non-Howard County resident students must reapply every school year.

Tuition

Non-Howard County resident students: Tuition will be assessed based on the tuition rates set by the Board of Education and in alignment with the Negotiated Agreements.

Attendance

Contact Us

Inquiries about student reassignment should be sent to residency@hcpss.org.

Additional information about student reassignment and student residency can be found online.