Polk County Public Schools
Title I Schools in Need of Improvement (SINI) must offer all of their students the opportunity to transfer to another non-SINI school. For transfers that are granted because of AYP, transportation will be provided as long as the student’s zoned school is a SINI. Students may stay in the school of transfer until the highest grade is completed in that school, and it is not necessary to re-apply each year, but transportation will not be provided once the zoned school is no longer SINI (makes AYP for two consecutive years). Parents should take this into consideration when making application for transfer. Students who transfer will be required to stay in the school of choice for the remainder of the school year. (Reason: In order to meet class size reduction requirements, it may be necessary to increase or decrease the number of teachers in a school due to AYP transfers.)
Parents should also consider that transferring to the option school may involve a lengthy bus ride and may require students to transfer between busses.
Once students have matriculated from the school of transfer, they must go to their next zoned school. If that school offers transfer to its students, it will be necessary for the student to apply for transfer from that school.
Because funds are limited to pay for the transportation costs associated with transfers, it may be necessary to prioritize students and limit the number that are granted transfers. If prioritization is necessary, students with the greatest academic need will be considered first. There is no sibling policy, so there is no guarantee that brothers and sisters will all receive transfers. Students who are not eligible for bus transportation through an AYP transfer may transfer to any school on the choice option list as long as parents are willing to provide their own transportation.
Letters informing parents of their child’s school’s AYP status are mailed to homes soon after AYP information is available. The letter also explains how to apply for the opportunity to transfer. An application and guidelines are attached to the letter. Parents are given a deadline for making application, and after that deadline has passed, no applications will be accepted. Transfers are only granted at the beginning of each school year.
Below are the Schools in Need of Improvement and the related documentation that is required by the DOE to have posted.