Resident Student Admission.

Washington school districts are open to the admission of resident students ages 5 through 21.  School districts must remain open to students with disabilities through the end of the school year in which the student turns age 22.

A child of a military family meets residency requirements if the child's parent or guardian is transferred or pending transfer to a military installation in Washington on active duty under official military orders.

Request for Records.

A school district must request an enrolling child's permanent record from the child's prior school, including disciplinary history, attendance, immunization records, and academic performance.

Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Washington participates in an interstate compact to reduce barriers to educational success for children of military families, including facilitating timely enrollment and transfer of records.

Additional Requirements for Enrolling Children of Military Families.

Conditional Enrollment Application. For a child of a military family, a school district must accept a conditional application for enrollment and course registration submitted electronically.

Finalization of Enrollment.  After the parent or guardian of a child of a military family provides proof of residence, the school district must finalize the child's enrollment.

Proof of Residence.  The parent or guardian of the child of a military family must provide proof of residence to the school district within 14 days of the arrival date in official military documentation.  Proof may include:  a temporary on-base billeting address; a purchased or leased residence, or a signed purchase and sale or lease agreement; or federal housing or off-base military housing.

Enrollment Pending Official Records.  Upon receiving unofficial education records, a school district must enroll and place a child of a military family as quickly as possible based on information provided, pending validation of official records.  At the same time, the school district must request official education records from the child's prior school.

Requirements for Students with Disabilities.

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), when a child with a disability who had an individualized education program (IEP) transfers to a school district in another state during the school year, the new district must provide a free appropriate public education.  This includes services comparable to those in the prior IEP, in consultation with the parents or guardians, until a new IEP is developed, if appropriate.

The IDEA also requires the child's new school district to take reasonable steps to promptly obtain the child's records, including the IEP and any other special education records, from the school the child previously attended, in compliance with student data privacy laws.

Resident Student Admission.

A child of a military family meets the residency requirements for enrollment in a school district if the child relocates to Washington due to, a parent or guardian's active-duty status, call to active duty, or pending call or order to active duty, and the parent or guardian is:

1. transferred to, or has received official notice of a pending transfer to, a military installationin Washington or a bordering state; or
2. relocating due to a military exigency, for example deployment, sea duty, or other mobilization.

Application for Enrollment.

A school district must accept from a child of a military family a conditional application for enrollment and course registration before the child arrives in Washington or a bordering state.  The district must accept an application by any reasonable means and provide maximum flexibility in submission, consistent with verification, privacy, and administrative requirements.

Transfer of Education Records and Continuity of Services.

If a child of a military family had an individualized education program (IEP) or a plan developed under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504 plan) in another state, the school district must:

1. take necessary steps to accept the transfer of the child's education records, including prior evaluations;
2. upon enrollment, provide appropriate services and accommodations without unreasonable delay, including services comparable to those in the child's prior IEP or Section 504 plan; and
3. if necessary, take reasonable steps to conduct anevaluation as expeditiously as practicable, consistent with applicable federal and state law.

Transportation.

A nonresident school district is not required to provide a child of a military family with transportation to and from the resident school district, unless required by federal or state law.

Proof of the Directed Move.

The parent or guardian must provide the school district with a copy of official military orders or other documentation confirming the directed move. 

Proof of Residence.

Proof of residence must be provided to the school district within 90 calendar days of enrollment.  A parent or guardian may use the address of a temporary lodging in the school district where permanent housing is expected.  However, a temporary on-base billeting addressmay not be used as proof of residence.

Finalization of Enrollment.

A school district is not required to finalize the child's enrollment until the parent or guardian provides both documentation confirming the directed move and proof of the child's residence in the district.