Choice Transfer Request

A student's school and resident school district is based on where the student resides. Families may ask to transfer their student to a school outside of their resident district. This is called a Choice Transfer. You may also hear it referred to as an out-of-district transfer, choice transfer, variance, waiver, or school choice.

State Law requires that a Choice Transfer Request be submitted each year.

For students wanting to transfer in to White River School District

If you live outside the White River School District boundaries, but wish to attend a school in White River School District a Choice Transfer Request must be completed. Please note we do not accept requests for Preschool or Transition to Kindergarten classrooms.

This process must be completed annually- State Law requires that a Choice Transfer Request be submitted each year.

Steps for RENEWAL REQUESTS: (Non Resident Students currently enrolled in a WRSD school):For students who are requesting to continue attendance in the White River School District and who attended during the prior school year and for students who move outside of WRSD’s boundaries during the school year.

1.) Submit a Choice Transfer request (Release of Attendance) to your resident district via the OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal. Once submitted, you will receive email notifications throughout the process.

*If you are not able to complete this process using the online portal, please reach out to your resident district for a Choice Transfer Request paper form.

Steps for NEW REQUESTS: (Non Resident Students who are not currently enrolled in WRSD):For students who are not currently enrolled in the White River School District. Both steps need to be completed, incomplete requests may be denied if all required paperwork is not submitted.

2.) Complete the White River School District Non-Resident Online Application.

*If you are not able to complete this process using the online form, you may complete the White River School District Non-Resident Application paper form and submit to the White River School District Administration Office.

via email (scanned form) Via fax: 360 829-3358

Via mail:
White River School District
Attn: Choice Transfers
PO Box 2050
Buckley, WA, 98321

Requests for the upcoming school year: Requests for the 2024-2025 school year will be accepted beginning February 1, 2024. For optimal consideration, submit applications by March 1, 2024. Renewal requests submitted after June 16, 2023 may not be considered until the 4th school day of the new school year. The request will go into pending status and will be denied, but will be approved if space becomes available.

Please note, depending on enrollment numbers and projections, new requests may not be considered until the 4th school day of the new school year. The request will go into pending status and will be denied, but may be approved if space becomes available. While waiting to be notified by the District, students should be enrolled in their resident school and district.

The district will process requests based on:

Whether acceptance of a nonresident student would result in the district experiencing significant financial hardship (“financial hardship” does not include routine programmatic costs associated with serving additional disabled or non-disabled students)
Whether in the grade level or class at the building where the student desires to be enrolled has the capacity for additional students
Whether appropriate educational programs or services are available to improve the student’s condition as stated in requesting release from his/her district of residence
Whether the student has maintained a record of satisfactory academic progress, including appropriate grade level placement for age
Whether the student has demonstrated a pattern of non-attendance or truancy in their previous educational setting
Whether the student’s disciplinary records or other documentation indicate a history of violent or disruptive behavior, or gang membership (a gang means a group of three or more persons with identifiable leadership that on an ongoing basis regularly conspires and acts in concert mainly for criminal purposes)
Whether the student has been expelled or suspended from a public school for more than ten consecutive days, in which case the student may apply for admission under the district’s policy for readmission of suspended or expelled students
Whether enrollment of a nonresident student would conflict with a district innovation academy cooperative under RCW 28A.340.080
Whether the student has repeatedly failed to comply with requirements for participation in an online school program, such as participating in weekly direct contact with the teacher or monthly progress evaluations.

The terms of transfers are as follows, if any of these conditions are not met, the transfer may be rescinded:

If, after the Choice Transfer application was approved, the information is found to be incomplete or has changed, and/or the information was materially misrepresented on the application.
If the student is expelled or suspended for more than ten (10) consecutive days from the district or any district school or program under the usual disciplinary process.
If the student is excessively tardy or truant.
If the student engages in frequent misconduct and/or disruptive behavior in violation of school rules (that indicates the student is not being successful in the school or program).
If the student does not maintain a record of satisfactory academic progress, including appropriate grade level placement for age.
In the event that overcrowding occurs in the student’s classroom or grade level, the District reserves the right to rescind the transfer.

In all cases that the district approves of the release of which a resident student is released, the student or the student's parent(s) will be solely responsible for transportation, except that a student may ride on an established district bus route if the Superintendent and/or his or her designee determines that the district would incur no additional cost.

Policy 3141- Nonresident students

For students wanting to transfer out of White River School District

If you live within the White River School district boundaries, but wish to attend a school outside our district or enroll in an online program through another school district.

1.) Submit a Choice Transfer Request (Release of Attendance) via the OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal. You will receive email notifications throughout the process.

*If you are not able to complete this process via the online portal, you may complete a Choice Transfer Request Paper Form and submit it to the White River School District Administration Office.

Via mail: White River School District Attn: Choice Transfers PO Box 2050 Buckley, WA, 98321	via email (scanned form)
	via fax: 360 829-3358

Once received, the form will be entered online to be processed.

This process must be completed annually.