Superintendent Tony Tata Calls for Strengthening Student Transfer Process
April 15, 2011 - Wake County Public School System Superintendent Tony Tata proposed improvements to the student transfer process today, following a thorough review of the process. Tata cited the opportunity to improve the clarity and transparency of the student transfer process.
"I want to make sure that everyone -- parents, principals and staff -- are fully aware of the process," Tata said. "After a complete review, we determined all recent transfers followed board policy, but I want to make changes that will clearly spell out the process to ensure consistency and maintain better transparency."
Changes recommended to the Board of Education will include clarifications and language that is more specific. The reasons under which a student is granted an administrative transfer will be clearly outlined, including the reasons stated in NC General Statute 115c-369.
Other changes include the elimination of automatic transportation for administrative transfers. Each case will now be reviewed annually to determine the need for special transportation.
Additionally, all administrators will be required to complete a form when recommending an administrative transfer, regardless of whether the recommendation is generated by administrators, including the Discipline Review Committee, or required under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation.
Every year, WCPSS receives requests from families to transfer to a different school, either through an administrative transfer or with a parent-initiated transfer made to the Growth & Planning Department. WCPSS tries to help families by approving as many requests as possible, provided they meet school board guidelines under Policy 6203.
As the school system continues to grow, the number of requests has also grown. During the past three years, less than 4,000 transfer requests were made each year. Also during that time span, the percentage of approvals has also increased from 46 percent in 2008, to 69 percent approved in 2010.
A small number of the total requests fall under administrative transfers, which are supported by school or central services administration based upon a concern for the welfare or safety of the student.
"There are currently 42 approved administrative transfers, 15 of which have been accepted by families," said Dr. Terri Cobb, WCPSS chief of staff, who conducted the review. "Seven of the 15 transfers are the result of NCLB legislation, one was recommended by the Discipline Review Committee, and seven were approved by the superintendent," she said.
Dr. Donna Hargens, as interim superintendent, signed off on four administrative transfers. "We were quite thorough in our review and verified they all followed board policy," she said.
Tata's proposed changes will help ensure that all transfers are handled in a consistent manner. "By increasing the clarity, defining the criteria and improving the accountability, everyone involved in the transfer process will benefit," he said.
Read the executive summary of Dr. Cobb's review of administrative transfers.