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3141R - Nonresident Students

Regulation 3141R
Students

State Law requires that nonresident students must supply a Choice Transfer Request from the District of residence each year before applying to Tacoma Public Schools. Students whose nonresident admission is not renewed annually are subject to enrollment termination. Nonresident admission is valid for a maximum of one school year. 

For any new nonresident student to be admitted to the District, a parent/guardian must complete: 

  1. A release from the home District of a nonresident student, in the form of the Choice Transfer Request that is available on OSPIs website, or from the office of enrollment services.
     
  2. An enrollment application which includes a request for nonresident admission.

New applications for nonresident admission in the upcoming school year will not be accepted prior to June 1 annually.  

The Choice Transfer Request and Nonresident Admission request require information including, but not limited to: the current legal residence of the child and the school District in which he/she is currently enrolled or receiving “home-based instruction,” the basis for requesting release from the resident District; the specific building and grade level in which the student desires to be enrolled if accepted by the District; special programs, classes or services the student received in his/her last school; any unique health services the student requires; whether the student has a history of convictions for offenses or crimes, violent or disruptive behavior; and whether the student has been expelled or suspended from a public or private school for more than 10 days.

The acceptance of nonresident students is determined by applying rational, fair, and equitable standards.  Students may be denied admission for the following reasons:

Acceptance of a nonresident student would result in the District experiencing financial hardship.

The student's disciplinary records indicate a history of convictions for offenses or crimes, violent or disruptive behavior, or gang membership;

The student has been expelled or suspended from a public school for more than ten consecutive days. Any policy allowing for readmission of expelled or suspended students must apply uniformly to both resident and nonresident students;

Enrollment of a child would displace a child who is a resident of the District, except if a child was admitted because they are the child of an employee of the nonresident District;

The student has repeatedly failed to comply with requirements for participation in an online school program, such as participating in weekly direct contact with the teacher or monthly progress evaluations.


The requested school or the office of enrollment services may seek the student’s records to confirm the representations made on behalf of the student prior to making a decision on the application. 

If the student is to be admitted, the requested school or enrollment services shall notify the resident District, the receiving school, and the parent/guardian. The receiving school shall make necessary arrangements for the transfer of student records. Acceptance of non-resident students is valid for no more than one year.

If the application is denied, the requested school or enrollment services will notify the parent or guardian of the right to appeal the decision to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The school principal shall decide whether to rescind any nonresident admission, consistent with the criteria set out in Policy No. 3141. The parent or guardian will be notified of the right to appeal the decision to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Nonresident high school student athletes must meet the eligibility requirements of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) to participate in varsity sports. Information about athletic eligibility shall be available from the District’s athletic office.

For a nonresident student to transfer to another school within the District, he/she must meet all conditions set forth in Policy 3141, including the completion of a new application.  

Approval Date: 6/28/1990, 3/23/1995, 10/12/1995, 1/29/2001, 3/28/2005

Revised Date: 2/18/2025

  • 3141R
  • nonresident