Interdistrict Transfers (for families residing outside of district boundaries)
- What is an Interdistrict Transfer?
- Universal TK-8 Interdistrict Transfers
- 9th through 12th grade Interdistrict Transfer Information
- Interdistrict Transfer Review Criteria
What is an Interdistrict Transfer?
An interdistrict transfer/reciprocal agreement is when parents/guardians wish to register/admit/enroll their student(s) at a school (in another school district) other than the designated school within their district of residence. California Education Code sections 46600–46610 permits parents/guardians to request an interdistrict transfer/reciprocal agreement. The fundamental basis for this provision is the signing of an agreement between districts. Interdistrict transfer/reciprocal agreement must be approved by both the student’s original district of residence and the district to which the student seeks to transfer to. Both districts must approve the agreement before it becomes valid. It is within the authority of either the home district or the receiving district to revoke an interdistrict transfer/reciprocal agreement at any time for any reason the local board or district superintendent deems appropriate. If a request for an interdistrict transfer/reciprocal agreement is denied, the student’s parents/guardians may file an appeal to the District Office (that denied the request) within 10 calendar days of receipt of the notice of denial. If the appeal at the District Level for an interdistrict transfer/reciprocal agreement is denied, the student’s parents/guardians may file an appeal to the county office of education (of the district that denied the request) within 30 days of receipt of the official notice of denial of the transfer. A parent/guardian's failure to meet any of the established timelines is deemed an abandonment of the request.
Accepting Interdistrict Transfer Agreements is a year-to-year decision and can change from one year to the next. There are limited openings in all of our award-winning schools. Los Alamitos Unified School District will begin processing Interdistrict Transfer Agreements for the 2023-24 school year on February 27, 2023. All permit agreements must be received by the District office and are date stamped when received. Permit agreements will not be date stamped prior to February 27, 2023. The District will either approve or deny the permit request 30 calendar days after receipt for the current school year. With regard to permit requests for future school year, the District will make a final decision as soon as possible, but no later than 14 days after the first day of school. If the interdistrict permit request is denied, the District will provide the requesting party a written notice of the District's decision.
Students who attend Los Alamitos Unified School District schools on an interdistrict permit agreement must maintain satisfactory scholarship, attendance and citizenship while enrolled. Failure to maintain satisfactory scholarship, attendance and/or citizenship will result in the permit agreement being revoked.
The District performs an annual review of all interdistrict permits to ensure all student information is current and correct. Changes in a student's educational services may require the student to reapply for a new interdistrict permit through their home school district.
The District makes every effort to maintain a student's enrollment at their assigned school, however, this is reviewed on a yearly basis. If enrollment, including enrollment in Special Programs, is impacted at a particular school site, a student on an interdistrict permit may be reassigned to a new school within the District where enrollment is not impacted for the following school year. The District maintains sole discretion regarding school assignments for students attending on interdistrict permits.
Universal TK-8 Interdistrict Transfers
9th through 12th grade Interdistrict Transfer Information
Only a limited number of new 9th and 10th grade Interdistrict Transfers will be approved for the 2023-24 school year. All new 9th and 10th grade Interdistrict Transfer requests must be submitted with all supporting documents by Friday, April 28, 2023. All permit agreements must be received by the District Office and date stamped upon receipt.
Interdistrict Transfer Agreements will be reviewed and approved beginning after April 28, 2023, based on space availability and may be entered into a new lottery.
Please note: Interdistrict transfer applications for new 11th and 12th grade students may not be accepted.
Interdistrict Transfer Review Criteria
ALL INTERDISTRICT PERMITS ARE REVIEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND MAY BE DENIED, NON-RENEWED OR CANCELLED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR BASED ON THE FOLLOWING ELEVEN CRITERIA
- Student fails to attend school the first day of the school year, fails to continue enrollment in a District-offered special program or course of study, or enrolls in any non-District school.
- Student does not maintain a satisfactory record of scholarship, citizenship and/or attendance.
- Family uses false, misleading or deliberate omission of information as a basis for securing or renewing a permit, fails to update information when address or circumstances change, or fails to follow school rules and policies.
- Student is requesting a new permit for 11th or 12th grade.
- Space at the student’s grade level is not available (as determined by the principal) and/or would exceed the pupil-class average established by the district.
- The transfer would negatively impact on the desegregation plan of this district or of the district of residence.
- Student is suspended for any violation of Ed. Code 48900 through 48900.7 whereby, an immediate interdistrict transfer revocation may occur.*
- Immediate interdistrict revocation may occur for other discipline problems if, in the opinion of the site administrative team, the student’s disciplinary problem warrants revocation.
- In the opinion of the Superintendent/designee, the permit is not renewed in the best interests of the students of the District
- The transfer of the student would require the District to create a new program or provide a new service to serve that student.
- The programs for which the student qualifies are impacted.
REQUESTS FOR NEW INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER AGREEMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BEGINNING FEBRUARY 27, 2023.
NEW STUDENTS REQUESTING ENROLLMENT INTO THE LOS ALAMITOS USD
Process for families residing outside the Los Alamitos USD
A. Parent/Guardian must first contact the school/district of residence (the school/district closest to where the student lives) to request an Interdistrict Transfer Agreement to be released from that school district.
B. If approved for release by the district of residence, Parent/Guardian will receive an outgoing Interdistrict Transfer Agreement form from the district of residence, releasing the student to request enrollment in the Los Alamitos Unified School District.
C. Upon successful completion of "A" and "B," please gather the documents listed below (If this is your child's first year in school the first four will not apply.) and complete the following steps:
- Copy of unofficial transcripts and current report card
- Copy of Attendance Record
- Copy of Discipline Record
- Copy of Current State Testing Results (if available)
- Information related to special programs (if applicable): Current IEP, Section 504 Plan, GATE Status, Advanced Placement Coursework
- Electronically submit (via email) the Interdistrict Transfer Agreement (from the district of residence) along with the supporting documents from above (scanned documents are preferred, but pictures will also be accepted) to Lisa Wallace at IDTRequest@losal.org. You may also hand deliver all items to the District Office at 10293 Bloomfield St., Building E, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.
- Complete and electronically submit the following online forms:
- Los Alamitos USD's IDT Permit Information form
- Supplemental Agreement for Interdistrict Transfers
Once you have sent the email (and any supporting documents) to IDTRequest@losal.org, and completed and submitted both online forms, you are finished with the process. Due to the large volume of requests, you may not receive notification regarding the status of your request until mid-May or early June. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS REQUESTING INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER RENEWALS
CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS/INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER PERMIT RENEWALS:
The Los Alamitos Unified School District requires currently enrolled students to renew their Interdistrict Transfer Agreement each year. The District annually reviews all interdistrict transfers to ensure all information is current. In order to continue your student's enrollment in our schools, you are required to complete an Intent to Return Agreement. This must be completed and submitted electronically via Informed K-12 and can be found here: Intent to Return For Interdistrict Transfer Students for the 2023-2024 School Year.
Once you submit the Intent to Return Agreement via Informed K12, you will receive a confirmation email from Informed K12. That email completes the process, and should be saved for your records. You do not need to contact your school or the District Office to confirm your form has been received. In the rare event your permit is not being renewed or is being revoked, you will be contacted directly by the site administrator at your school.
For currently enrolled students turning in renewed Interdistrict Transfer Agreements releasing student from their district of residence, please submit via email to Lisa Wallace at IDTRequest@losal.org .
***Please note: currently enrolled students only need to submit a New Interdistrict Transfer Agreement releasing the student from the home district (if required by home district) and the Intent to Return Agreement via Informed K12. Transcripts, report cards, attendance records, discipline records, and state testing results are not required as they should be on record at their currently enrolled school site.
- STATUS OF INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER REQUEST APPLICATIONS
- ADDITIONAL RESOURCES REGARDING INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS
STATUS OF INTERDISTRICT TRANSFER REQUEST APPLICATIONS
The District is not able to provide the status of a pending application. Notification will be made via email and/or phone call once a decision has been made, typically in mid-May to early June. For questions OTHER than the status of an application, please email Lisa Wallace at LWallace@losal.org or call Lisa Wallace at (562) 799-4700 ext./ 80411.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES REGARDING INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS
Interdistrict Transfer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click Here to view the Interdistrict Transfer Process Slides that were shown at the Parent Meetings.
For specific information regarding Universal TK/Kindergarten Enrollment, Click Here
For specific information regarding Middle School Enrollment, Click Here