The Knox County Board of Education recognizes that there are situations in which a family may wish

for their child to attend a school other than their zoned school. This policy sets forth the parameters

through which parents and/or legal guardians may request student transfer.

An “out-of-zone student” is a student who attends a school that is not his or her zoned school.

The term “sibling” refers to a brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother, step-sister, or foster

child living in the same household.

The terms “parent” and “legal guardian” refer to the legally-recognized parent or legal guardian of a

student.

of Enrollment or the Director of Schools.

capacity will take into consideration physical space available, program offerings and the staffing level.

school to which the student is assigned. Students granted transfers will be expected to maintain an

appropriate academic, disciplinary and attendance record at the receiving school. If a student does not

meet these expectations, the principal of the receiving school may recommend that the transfer be

Director of Schools determines it is in the best interests of the student and/or the school system to do

otherwise.

Any out-of-zone student found to be enrolled in or attending a school other than their zoned school

without an approved transfer shall be returned to the appropriate zoned school at the end of the semester

in which the violation is discovered, unless the Director of Schools or his/her designee determines it is in

the best interests of the student and/or the school system to do otherwise. If the wrongful transfer or

enrollment is believed to have been a willful action on the part of a parent or legal guardian, the Director

of Schools may pursue action under the provisions of the Tennessee Code Annotated.

open transfer periods:

October and end on the Tuesday following President’s Day.

and end on the first business day in June.

of reasons, including:

a transfer, based on the availability of appropriate programming, to the school where the teacher is

employed after filing an appropriate transfer request during the open transfer window.

Knox County

Schools will also make every effort to extend this benefit to all employees on a capacity-available

basis. Employees of Knox County Schools who experience a change in employment status after the

open transfer application windows have closed may apply for a Hardship Transfer. Any additional

qualifications for a Specialty School Transfer must be met before an employee request for student

transfer will be considered. Active, full-time employee status will be verified through the Knox

County Payroll Office.

criteria established by the Tennessee Board of Education or if their student has been the victim of a

violent crime at their zoned school.

students with a sibling enrolled at a school other than their zoned school may request a transfer to the

same school on a basis of their sibling’s enrollment.

study, such as L&N STEM Academy, Career Magnet Academy, KCS Virtual School, the Beaumont

Magnet Academy Honors Program, and the West High School IB Programme. Transfers to these

schools may require additional qualifications for approval, and may be entitled to transportation.

the waitlist until space becomes available at the requested school or until waitlists are closed on the Friday

prior to the start of the school year. Students who have not received an approved transfer prior to the start

of the school year shall report to their zoned school at the beginning of the new school year.

student for what the Director determines to be the well-being of the student or the best interests of the

school system.

emergency, a change in family or residential status, or other extraordinary circumstance requiring

immediate consideration. Hardship Transfers must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set

forth in Administrative Procedure AP-J-152 and shall be evaluated by the Enrollment Department in the

order in which they are received.