Board reviews interdistrict transfer limits and virtual‑charter cap as district losses rise
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Summary
Superintendent reported about 177 students transferred out this year and roughly 20 transfers were accepted in; district staff outlined hardship criteria for transfers and noted the district currently has about 202 students in virtual charters (over the 3% cap), and promised more data on hardship vs. choice transfers.
Superintendent Dave told the board that interdistrict transfers are a growing budget concern on Jan. 13, reporting about 177 students transferred out of the district this school year, including students who left for virtual charter schools and homeschools.
What staff presented: the district’s practical limits used last year were 20 releases and 50 incoming transfers by lottery, but hardship exemptions (military deployment, McKinney‑Vento homelessness, medical conditions, childcare location, severe harassment/bullying) allow additional transfers. Dave said he routinely meets with families whose cases are unclear to determine the best outcome for students and families.
Virtual‑charter cap: the board reviewed a policy cap that limits virtual charter enrollment to 3% of district enrollment; staff said the district currently has about 202 students enrolled in virtual charters and that once a district exceeds the cap it may deny new requests, though existing students were grandfathered in. The superintendent said the cap complicates budgeting because funds follow the student to their new district or charter.
Board questions and next steps: trustees asked staff to clarify whether the 177 figure represented net new transfers this year (answer: yes), to break down how many transfers were hardship‑based versus choice‑based, and to provide comparative data from other districts. The superintendent committed to returning with more specific transfer data and options for whether to change the board’s release/receive limits.
No policy change was adopted; the board directed staff to prepare further analysis and return at a future meeting.