Polk County Public Schools
Title I Schools in Need of Improvement (SINI) that are SINI-2+ (have not made AYP for three or more years) must offer all of their students the opportunity to apply to transfer to another non-SINI school. 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. Transportation will not be provided once the zoned school is no longer SINI (makes AYP for two consecutive years) and 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.)
If a student receives a transfer with bus transportation, parents should consider that transferring to the option school may involve a lengthy bus ride and may require students to transfer between busses.
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 and economic 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 will be given the option to transfer, although you may not receive your first choice school and you must provide transportation.
Letters informing parents of their child’s school transfer option are mailed to homes in mid-April. 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 related documentation.