Students are required to attend school in the district where their parent or guardian resides, unless they obtain an approved Interdistrict Transfer (IDT) as stipulated in CA Ed Code § 46600. This link shows which cities are within the Tamalpais High School District (TUHSD) boundaries: Cities in the Tamalpais Union High School District. 

TUHSD approves Interdistrict Transfers into the district under exceptional circumstances only. Please read Board Policy 5117/Administrative Regulation 5117 before requesting a transfer into TUHSD. Note: Students who have applied for an interdistrict transfer and are accepted into one of the Tam District elementary feeder schools in grades K-8, are NOT guaranteed admission to attend high school in the Tam District.

To request a transfer OUT of TUHSD, please fill out this form and return it to Karmela Cleary at transfers@tamdistrict.org.

TIMELINE

• TUHSD will accept Interdistrict Transfer requests annually from January 1 to March 31 for the following school year. Requests submitted at other times of the year will only be considered if the student moves out of the District or in crisis situations that require immediate transfer.

PROCEDURES

• To file a request for Interdistrict transfer into the District, the student's parent/guardian must first obtain a release from the student's current district of residence. Complete the appropriate form from your district of residence.

• Currently enrolled students who move out of the Tam District must file for an Interdistrict transfer one month after moving.

• Interdistrict Transfer requests must include:

  1. A written letter or email detailing the reason for the request.

  2. The request must demonstrate that the student’s needs cannot be met in their district of residence.

  3. Supporting documentation (verification) for claims of bullying, assault/safety concerns, and social-emotional needs/mental illness from a school administrator, counselor or law enforcement (if applicable).
     
     

• Responses to requests for Interdistrict transfer will be provided within 30 calendar days of receiving the request at the TUHSD Office of Superintendent.

• The Superintendent will deny a transfer, or revoke an existing transfer, if information provided on the transfer request is discovered to be false or fraudulent. 

• Students approved for Interdistrict Transfers must sign an Interdistrict Attendance Contract annually. Interdistrict transfers will be reviewed annually and may be revoked for behavior, attendance, or academic deficiencies, as defined by the Interdistrict Attendance Contract.

• Failure of a parent/guardian to meet any timelines established by the district shall be deemed an abandonment of the request.

REASONS FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF REQUESTS

Administrative Regulation 5117 has a limited number of reasons for approval of transfers into the District because of the impact of overcrowding within TUHSD schools. Here are some of the criteria the Superintendent uses for approving or denying requests:

Reasons for Approval: 

• Student moved out of the district after completing 11th grade and wishes to attend 12th grade in the District. Student must be in good academic, behavioral and attendance standing.

• Student moved out of the District during 11th grade and wishes to complete 11th and 12th grade in the District. Student must be in good academic, behavioral and attendance standing.

• Student moved out of the District with less than one semester remaining of the current school year and wishes to complete the current school year in the District. Student must be in good academic, behavioral and attendance standing. (Note: This transfer reason is valid for the remainder of the current school year only, and the student must reapply for additional years).

• Student is a child of a current District Employee (0.5 FTE or greater and a permanent employee).

• Student is a child of a current employee of a feeder district with a signed resolution of reciprocity agreement. (Currently - LCMSD and SMCSD)

• Student has exceptional circumstances that are verified and confirmed and their parent/guardian has demonstrated that their needs cannot be met in their district of residence.

• Sibling of a student with an existing IDT and the siblings will attend school concurrently in the District for at least one year.

• Student is the child of an active military duty parent.“Active military duty parent” means a parent with full-time military duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and the State Military Reserve on active duty orders.

Reasons for Denial:

• Request was not submitted within the posted timeline (January 1 - March 31).

• Overcrowding.

• Limited District Resources, including: 

  • Specific program or academic course of study (including alternative programs).

  • School programs, alternative programs or specialized programs that are filled to capacity.
    
    

• Other non-arbitrary reasons for denial, including:

  • Friend requests.

  • To participate in Althetic programs (at a district school or nearby).

  • Child care concerns.

  • Transportation issues.

  • Location of parent employment.

  • Information provided on the transfer request is discovered to be false or fraudulent.

APPEALS PROCESS

• Appeals to the Board of Trustees for IDT denials will be accepted until April 15 of each year, or within 30 days of the parents' notification of the denial, whichever comes first. A request for appeal must be sent in writing, either by email or US mail, to the Superintendent and must include the reasons for the appeal.  Requests for appeals will not be granted when transfer requests are received before January 1 or after the March 31 deadline, except in the few instances that we accept requests at other times, as outlined above.

• Failure of a parent/guardian to meet timelines for transfer and appeal requests will be deemed an abandonment of the request.

• Appeal hearings will be scheduled and the Board of Trustees' final decision will be rendered within 30 calendar days of receiving the appeal request at the TUHSD Office of Superintendent. If no board meeting is scheduled to take place within the 30 days, the appeal hearing will be scheduled for the next closest board meeting.

If you have additional questions regarding the TUHSDinterdistrict transfer policy, please call Karmela Cleary, Executive Assistant, at (415) 945-1020 or email kcleary@tamdistrict.org.