Resident Student Admission. Washington school districts are open to the admission of resident students between the ages of 5 and 21. School districts remain open for admission to students with disabilities through the end of the school year in which the student turns age 22.
A child of a military family satisfies Washington's residency requirements if the child's parent or guardian is transferred to, or is pending transfer to, a military installation within Washington while on active duty under official military orders.
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. In 2009, Washington adopted an interstate compact intended to remove barriers to educational success for children of military families. Among other provisions, the compact facilitates timely enrollment and helps ensure that children of military families are not disadvantaged due to difficulties in transferring education records.
Conditional Enrollment Application. A school district must accept an application for enrollment and course registration for a child of a military family on a conditional basis by electronic means. Once the parent or guardian provides proof of residence, the school district must finalize the child's enrollment.
Proof of Residence. The parent or guardian of the child must provide proof of residence to the school district within 14 days of the arrival date stated in official military documentation. Proof of residence may include any of the following:
Request for Records. A school district enrolling any student must request the student's permanent record from the school the student previously attended, including records of disciplinary action, history of violent behavior or sexual offenses, attendance, immunization records, and academic performance.
Enrollment Pending Official Records. Upon receipt of unofficial education records, a school district must enroll and appropriately place a child of a military family, as quickly as possible based on the information provided, pending validation of the child's official records. Simultaneous with the enrollment and conditional placement, the school district must request the child's official education record from the school the child previously attended.
Requirements for Students with Disabilities. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that, when a child with a disability transfers to a school district in another state during the school year and had an individualized education program (IEP) in effect, the child's new school district must provide a free appropriate public education. This includes services comparable to those described in the child's previously held IEP, in consultation with the child's parents or guardians, until the school district conducts an evaluation, if necessary, and develops a new IEP, if appropriate, consistent with federal and state law.
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.
Student Admission. Residency Requirements. A child of a military family meets the residency requirements for enrollment in a school district if a parent or guardian of the child is transferred to, or is pending transfer to, a military installation within Washington or a bordering state, or the military family is transferring due to a military exigency requiring relocation, under official military orders. With regard to a parent or guardian who is transferred to, or is pending transfer to, a military installation within Washington, there is no longer a requirement that the parent or guardian be on active duty.
Proof of Military Orders. The parent or guardian must provide proof of official military orders or documentation by their military commander of 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, as proof of residence, the address of a temporary lodging located within the school district where the military family expects to obtain permanent housing.
Application for Enrollment. A school district must accept an application for enrollment and course registration for a child of a military family on a conditional basis before the military family arrives in Washington. The school district must accept the application by electronic or other means. A school district is not required to finalize the child's enrollment until the parent or guardian provides both proof of military orders and proof of residency.
Special Education Services. Transfer of Education Records. If a child of a military family transfers with an IEP or a plan developed under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (section 504 plan), the school district must take the necessary steps to accept the transfer of the child's education records and any prior evaluations.
Continuity of Services and Accommodations. Upon enrollment, the school district must ensure that the child of a military family receives appropriate services and accommodations consistent with the child's existing IEP or section 504 plan, without unreasonable delay.
Reevaluation Timeline. If the school district determines that a reevaluation is necessary, the reevaluation must be completed within 30 calendar days after the date of arrival, subject to the parent's or guardian's informed consent.
Transportation. A non-resident school district is not required to provide transportation to and from school, unless otherwise required by state or federal law.