School board announces policy changes

At the December 2016 meeting of the Cannon County Board of Education, revisions were made to two policies that affect K-12 student enrollment in Cannon County Schools.

The amended policies are the Student Transfer Policy (6.206) and Out-of-County Student Enrollment Guidelines. Complete policies are included for your convenience. For more information, please contact the Cannon County Board of Education office at 301 W. Main St., Woodbury, TN.

Transfers within the System (Board Policy 6.206)
General information
Transfer students will meet the same enrollment requirements as new students.
The student must exhibit good attendance and good conduct to attend any Cannon County school.
Children must live with their legal guardian in order to attend school in Cannon County.
The Director of Schools has final approval of all transfers.
Principals shall allow credit for work transferred from other schools only when substantiated by official transcripts or successful completion of comprehensive written examinations approved, administered and graded by the principal or his/her designated representative.1
If a parent/guardian moves out of the county within the school year, his/her children will be allowed to remain in the Cannon County School System for the remainder of that school year.
In order to avoid overcrowding issues, the following student capacity guidelines will be abided by for the approval of transfers:
Kindergarten through 3rd grade =17
4th grade through 6th grade=22
7th grade through 8th grade=27

In-county transfers
During the time period of May 15-June 15 of each year, a parent/guardian may request that his/her child attend a school within the system other than the one to which the child is zoned. Transfer requests shall be made using a zone exemption application that can be obtained from the Cannon County Board of Education's central office. [Forms may only be picked up between May 15 and June 15.] The principal and board member of the receiving school and the releasing school shall make recommendations for transfers to the Director of Schools. The Director of Schools shall review such requests, and if adequate space is available, grant transfers unless a transfer would be adverse to the best interests of the child or school system. If granted, the student must provide his/her own transportation to and from the school.2
Except within the first ten (10) days of a school year where a parent/guardian may appeal the assignment of a student to the board,3 after a student has enrolled in one (1) school within the system, he/she shall not be permitted to transfer to another unless there is a change in residence of the student's parents or guardians outside the zone in which the student enrolled.
Students, whose families transfer their residence to another school zone after the first month of school, may complete the school year at their former school.
Students, with a previously approved out-of-zone transfer, will be allowed to attend the out-of-zone school provided this transfer does not cause overcrowding. All transfers will be reviewed annually.
Siblings of students with an approved out-of-zone transfer will be allowed to attend the out-of-zone school, if the older sibling is still attending the out-of-zone school.

Out-of-county transfers
Out-of-county students requesting enrollment must be approved by the Principal and the Director of Schools and will be allowed, provided the transfer does not cause overcrowding.

Out-of-county students will be charged an annual, non-refundable tuition. Payment is due on or before day of enrollment.
Parents must provide transportation to and from school.
Out-of-county transfers must be affirmed annually.
Director's discretion will be used in placement of student(s).
The deadline for requesting admission to Cannon County Schools is August 1 of each school year.
(See Administrative Guidelines which are attached to this policy.)

Other transfers
Employees who reside outside Cannon County will be allowed to bring their children to Cannon County Schools. Children must attend the school where the employee works unless this causes overcrowding. Children of full-time, out-of-county, school employees will not be charged a fee.
Elementary-age children of full-time, out-of-county, Cannon County High School employees or district-wide personnel, shall attend Woodbury Grammar unless this causes overcrowding.
An employee who resides in Cannon County will be allowed to take his/her children to the school where the employee works, if the school has available room and teaching capacity.
Director's discretion will be used in the placement of students.
If a teacher leaves employment in the district within the school year, his/her children will be allowed to remain in the Cannon County School System for the remainder of that school year.

RULES FOR OUT-OF-COUNTY STUDENTS TO ATTEND CANNON COUNTY SCHOOLS*

Must be approved by the Director of Schools and Principal of receiving school

Be charged a non-refundable fee annually of $800.00 for 1st student, $200.00 for 2nd student, $1000 family maximum

Must provide their own transportation

Must be reaffirmed every year

Must maintain good attendance

Must have good conduct

Schools must have available room and teaching capacity

Allowed in any grade with permission

Deadline--August 1st of each school year

Children of full-time, out-of-county school employees will not be charged a fee.

*Revised and Approved by the Cannon County Board of Education 12/08/2016