Appealing a Denied School Transfer Request

If your transfer request was denied, you may have the right to appeal to the Wake County Board of Education. This appeal is your final opportunity to provide any information you want the Board to consider before they make a decision.

Appeals are not automatic and must meet specific conditions.

Who can appeal?

You may appeal if one of the following applies:

• Newly Enrolled Students: You submitted a transfer request within 10 business days of enrollment, and it was denied.
• Address Change: Your domicile changed, which altered your base school, and you submitted a transfer request within 10 business days of the change, which was denied.
• Administrative Transfer: You received notice of an administrative transfer.

If your situation does not meet these conditions, your transfer decision is final, and an appeal is not an option.

How to request an appeal

If you are eligible to appeal, you must submit your request within 10 business days of receiving your denial notification.

Step 1: Submit your appeal appointment request

If you are eligible for an appeal, directions were provided on how to request an appeal, including the form to submit your appointment request. If you submit an appointment request via the form and your transfer request is not eligible for an appeal, no appeal hearing will be scheduled. If you have multiple students who are eligible for a transfer appeal, you must submit a request for each student. Following the receipt of an eligible appeal request, we will work to email you within 10 business days with details about the upcoming appeal hearing. This email will provide you with the actual date, time, and method, along with other important information about the appeal hearing. Please know the appeal hearing date will be scheduled for the first available date and time slot. Given the volume of eligible appeals, expect an appeal hearing date at least one month out from the email.

What to expect during the appeal

• Appeal hearings are conducted by phone.
• A hearing officer will listen to your appeal and submit a recommendation to the Board of Education.
• You will have approximately two minutes to present your appeal.
• You may submit additional information that was not included in your original request. Ask your appeal officer how to provide additional information.

Important: This is your final opportunity to provide information

• You will not have another opportunity to provide new details after this hearing.
• If there is anything you want the Board to consider, be sure to submit it now.
• Families are encouraged to prepare a written summary of their reasons for the transfer request. This will ensure that all key details are included in the materials reviewed by the Board.