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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.

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

Reassignment requests based on relocation are accepted and processed after the first day of school.

All families are required to report a change of address to their child(ren)’s school(s), regardless of whether the move is in the same school attendance area, into a new school attendance area, or out of the county.

Within 10 school (business) days of your move, please reach out to your child’s current school to share your new residency documents.

A student who has a change of bona fide residence on or after the first day of the current school year and has moved out of the current attendance area has the following options:

  1. Transfer to the school in the new attendance area once the family moves
  2. Submit a reassignment request under the relocation category to complete the current school year at the school in which they are currently enrolled

A student who receives a reassignment approval under the relocation category must attend the school in their new attendance area the following school year. Exceptions are granted to students who achieved Junior status at the time of their move.

For moves out of Howard 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.

Families who move in the summer prior to the start of the school year are not eligible for reassignment in this category unless a student has achieved Junior status.

Required documentation:

  • A Change of Address Form and updated residency documents must be provided to the current school for residency verification.
  • 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 the parent/guardian if they are eligible for the relocation category of student reassignment.
  • Residency information and eligibility must be signed off by the school’s registering staff. After the school receives the completed R-SRRF back, the school will send it 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

Reassignment requests based on contracts to build, buy or lease a home in a different school attendance area are accepted and processed after July 1st.

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., first day of school). If the student is not in the projected home within 90 calendar days of the student’s attendance, an extension may be granted and/or tuition may be assessed. (Only nonresident students are required to pay tuition under this circumstance).

For the 2024-2025 school year, the first day of attendance is scheduled to be August 26, 2024 and 90 calendar days later will be November 24, 2024. Regardless of building delays, the student must be living in the new home by November 24, 2024 (or 90 calendar days from their first day of attendance).

Required documentation:

  • Build/Buy/Lease Student Reassignment Request Form (B-SRRF)
  • Maryland Contract of Sale/Purchase Agreement or signed original, complete lease with address, valid dates and signatures
  • Letter from builder (on letterhead) with building permit number and anticipated move-in date (new build only)
  • Proof of residence at current housing location while awaiting a move into the new home
  • Documentation regarding your plan of intent regarding current housing (e.g., current house under contract; intent to terminate current lease; hotel receipts; short-term lease, etc.)
  • All documentation submitted (e.g., contract of sale; letter from builder) must support moving into a new home within 90 calendar days of the first day of attendance.
  • Please scan and email all documentation to residency@hcpss.org.
  • A determination will be issued within 45 school (business) days from the date the student reassignment request and supporting documentation are received.
  • 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

    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 3: Hardship

    A student must be enrolled and attending school in HCPSS while awaiting a reassignment determination.

    Hardship reassignment requests for the 2025-2026 school year are accepted between:

    • April 1, 2025 – June 15, 2025 (Spring window)
    • October 1, 2025 – February 15, 2026 (Fall window)

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

    All concerns should begin as a school-level discussion with documented attempts to reach resolution there before requesting student reassignment. Parents/guardians should visit the Parent Advocacy Page to determine if reassignment is the appropriate process to address their concern.

    • Immediate concerns for student safety and/or issues with specific staff and/or administration should be addressed through the Formal Concern Process.
    • Concerns related to a student’s IEP or 504 Plan (including accommodations, implementation, and/or school placement) must be resolved at the school level with the IEP team or 504 Case Manager.

    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 there is a documented extraordinary hardship that meets the standard for exception, a student may be granted reassignment to another school. The approved school will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to school capacity and geographic proximity to the student’s bona fide residence. Final determination of the approved school will be made by the Office of Pupil Personnel Services.

    Required documentation:

    • Hardship Student Reassignment Request Form (H-SRRF)
    • Documentation and information that supports a family’s claim of unique hardship. Please scan and email all documentation to residency@hcpss.org. Examples of supporting documentation include, but are not limited to:
      • Recommendation Form for a Licensed Medical or Mental Health Professional
      • Documentation of a student’s work with a mental health or medical professional (e.g., should include information about the diagnosis, treatment plan, and expected outcomes)
      • Documentation that demonstrates a link between a student’s mental health and/or medical condition and the necessity for a transfer to a different school
      • Documentation that demonstrates that HCPSS staff at the designated school cannot support a student’s socioemotional wellbeing, mental health needs, and/or medical condition
      • A principal’s complaint outcome letter after completion of a Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form
      • Verifiable documentation that demonstrates a student’s unique hardship.

    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

    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 4: Employee

    Eligible HCPSS employees (must be a parent as defined by Policy 9000) can request reassignment for their child/student under the employee benefit:

    • Only .5 or greater full-time equivalent HCPSS employees have access to the employee benefit.
    • The request can be the school to which the parent is assigned or a school within a prescribed feeder pattern cluster.
  • Tuition is charged for nonresidents. Please contact residency@hcpss.org for more information.
  • If the employee changes work locations within HCPSS during the school year, the student will be allowed to complete the current school year only.
  • Required documentation:

    • Employee Student Reassignment Request Form (E-SRRF)
    • For employees living out of county: Intent to Pay Form (This will be sent to you once you submit your reassignment request.)

    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

    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.

    Nonresident students: Approval under the employee category is valid for that current school year only. Nonresident students must reapply every school year.

    Tuition

    Nonresident students: Tuition will be assessed based on the tuition rates set by the Board of Education and in alignment with the Negotiated Agreements.

    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.


    Contact Us

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

    Additional information about student reassignment can be found on the HCPSS Help Site.