The Effingham County Board of Education is now accepting requests for students to attend a school other than the one for which they are zoned for the 2014-15 school year.
By law, students in the school district can attend a school outside of their attendance zone as long as the school has available space and a parent/guardian can provide the student’s transportation.
School transfer request forms are available on the school system’s Web site, www.effinghamschools.com, and at the board of education central office at 405 North Ash St. in Springfield.
Completed applications must be mailed or submitted in-person to the central office by May 9. Forms delivered or postmarked after 4:30 p.m. on May 9 will not be accepted, nor will faxed or emailed forms.
According to school officials, space to accept transfers from within the district is available at nine schools – Ebenezer, Guyton, Rincon, Sand Hill and Springfield elementary schools; Ebenezer, Effingham County and South Effingham middle schools; and South Effingham High.
Space for transfers is not available at Effingham County High and Blandford, Marlow and South Effingham elementary schools.
If a student has a hardship situation, the transfer request should include a written explanation and any documentation the parent wishes to provide as evidence of the hardship.
If more requests are received than can be accommodated, requests from parents who are employed by the Effingham County School System and requests with documentation of legitimate hardship will receive priority. Any remaining openings will be filled based on the order they were received.
Any special programs the student requires must be available at the school requested. State law does not require the district to allow for transfers to schools where special programs do not already exist.
The student must be a full-time resident of Effingham County.
Families will be notified by mail whether their request is accepted or rejected. Parents are asked not to call the board of education for an update unless they have not received their notification by May 27.
