Bellingham Public Schools
3141 Policy – Non-resident Students
3141 Policy – Non-resident Students
Bellingham Public Schools recognizes a primary obligation to school age children who reside with the district. However, any student who resides outside district boundaries may apply to attend school in the district.
The district uses the Washington State Choice Transfer Request Portal to process requests for student transfer enrollment and into online or alternative learning experience programs or schools.
Nonresident students are approved for one academic year. A new Choice Transfer Request must be submitted for each subsequent school year.
Nonresident transfer requests can be submitted beginning Feb. 15 for the following year.
Our priority window for all transfer requests is Feb. 15-March 1. Transfer requests submitted during this priority period will be notified of a decision by the end of March. Transfer requests submitted after March 1 and those requesting kindergarten sixth and ninth grade may not know status until mid-August or up to the fifth day of school.
Similarly, any parent/guardian may file a declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction and enroll a student for ancillary services, if any, during this time period. All requests for nonresident attendance or home-based instruction will be considered equally.
The superintendent or designee will annually inform parents/guardians of nonresident students enrolled in the district of the inter-district enrollment options and parental involvement opportunities.
Information on inter-district policies will be provided to nonresidents on request. Providing online access to the information satisfies the requirements of this policy unless a parent/guardian specifically requests information to be provided in written form. The district will not charge any transfer fees or tuition costs for enrolling eligible nonresident students.
A student who resides in a district that does not operate a secondary program will be permitted to enroll in secondary schools in this district in accordance with state law and regulation relating to the financial responsibility of the resident district.
Standards for Approval or Denial
The superintendent or designee will approve or deny a request for nonresident admission based on the following standards:
A. Whether space is available in the students’ grade level or class and in the programs or services needed to address the educational needs of the nonresident student, in the school requested.
B. Whether acceptance of a nonresident student would result in the district experiencing financial hardship.
C. Whether the student’s attendance in the district is likely to lead to disruption of the learning environment or create a risk to the health or safety of other students or staff.
D. Whether the student has maintained a satisfactory attendance record.
E. Whether the student’s disciplinary records or other documentation indicate a history of convictions for offenses or crimes; violent or disruptive behavior; or gang membership (a gang means a group of three or more persons with identifiable leadership that on an ongoing basis regularly conspires and acts in concert for criminal purposes)
F. Whether the student has been expelled or suspended from a public school for more than 10 consecutive days, in which case the student may apply for admission to their resident school under the resident school district’s policy for readmission or expelled students. The student must qualify for readmission to their resident school prior to admission consideration.
G. Whether the parent/guardian can provide transportation for the nonresident student.
Special Consideration:
A. Except for children of full-time certificated or classified employees, all transfer requests received will be considered equally.
B. If more transfer requests are received than can be approved based upon the standards above, students who have previously been enrolled in the district will receive priority consideration.
C. If the requests received exceed space available after applying the two considerations above, the district will use a lottery system to determine acceptance.
Approval or Denial Notification
The parent/guardian will receive email notification of the approval or denial of admission through the choice transfer request portal within 45 calendar days from receipt of the parent/guardian’s request.
If the request is denied, the notification will include the reason(s) for denial and inform the parent/guardian of their right to appeal the decision. The appeal can be submitted to the deputy superintendent in writing within 10 days of the notification of the denial. Parent/guardians also have the right to appeal to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as detailed in RCW 28A.225.230.
Extracurricular Activities
The eligibility of non-resident students to participate in extracurricular activities shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).
Termination of Enrollment
Non-resident student enrollment may be terminated if:
A. The resident student population increases to the point that there is insufficient capacity for nonresident students in the assigned school.
B. Information about the student’s instructional needs, disciplinary records or attendance records were unknown or materially misrepresented in the transfer request.
C. The student is suspended or expelled from the school or district under standard disciplinary procedures.
D. The student has engaged in violent or disruptive behavior.
E. The student has repeatedly failed to comply with requirements for participation in an alternative or online school program, such as participating in weekly direct contact with the teacher, or
F. The students’ admission is no longer consistent with the standards for approval above.
Resident students moving out of district during the school year will be notified by the school of the requirement for Washington State Choice Transfer Request to be submitted with the district to remain enrolled. If the transfer request is denied, the last day for the student to attend will be determined and communicated by the school district.
Children of Full-Time Employees
Pursuant to RCW 28A.225.225, a nonresident student who is the child of a full-time certificated or classified employee will be permitted to enroll:
A. At the school where the employee is assigned.
B. At a school forming the district’s kindergarten through 12th grade continuum, which includes the school where the employee is assigned; the student remains enrolled until they complete schooling; or
C. At a school in the district that provides early intervention services pursuant to RCW 28A.155.065 and/or preschool services pursuant to RCW 28A.155.070 if the student is eligible for such services.
The superintendent or designee may deny the request of a nonresident student who is the child of a full-time employee if:
A. The student’s disciplinary records indicate a history of discipline offenses or criminal convictions/adjudications, violent or disruptive behavior or membership in a group defined as a gang under RCW 28A.225.225.
B. The student has been expelled or suspended from school for more than 10 consecutive days.
C. Enrollment of the student would displace a child who is a resident of the district (except that a student admitted under this section must be permitted to remain enrolled at that school or in the K-12 grade continuum until they complete their schooling); or
D. The student has repeatedly failed to comply with requirements for participation in an alternative school program, such as participating in weekly direct contact with the teacher.
Cross References:
Policy 3115 - Students Experiencing Homelessness - Enrollment Rights and Services
Policy 3120 - Enrollment
Legal References:
RCW 28A.225.220 Adults, children from other districts, agreements for attending school-Tuition.
RCW 28A.225.240 Apportionment credit.
RCW 28A.225.290 Enrollment options information booklet.
RCW 28A.225.300 Enrollment options information to parents.
Chapter 392-137 WAC Finance-Nonresident attendance
Management Resources:
Policy News, December 2018 Nonresident Students
Policy News, October 2015 Nonresident Students Policy Updated
Policy News, June 2003, Enrolling children of School Employees
Policy News, September 1999, School safety bills impact policy
Adopted/Previous Revisions: 01/15/04; 02/23/12; 10/14/14; 01/23/15; 10/19/17; 06/05/23; 03/19/24; 10/13/25
Last Revised: 01/23/26
Superintendent or Board Approved: Superintendent Approved
- Series 3000