Transfer Handbook (English)

These procedures set forth the requirements, steps, and timeline for:

●  Transfer of resident students to a school outside of their attendance area (“In-District Transfers”);

●  In-District Transfers of resident students whose parent is a current District employee, and enrollment of nonresident students whose parent is a current District employee (“Employee students”); and

●  Enrollment of nonresident students.

SMSD resident students who meet the District’s good standing requirements are eligible for an In-District Transfer.  Good standing requirements for SMSD resident students are listed below.

●  If the student is applying for a transfer for grades 8-12, the student must be in good standing academically at the school he/she currently attends; "academic good standing" is defined as maintaining no less than a "D" in every course on every quarterly grade report for the previous two (2) school years, excluding any grades from elementary school. Academic standing must be verified by official school documents;

●  The student must be a citizen in good standing at the school he/she currently attends; a "citizen in good standing" is defined as having no major school disciplinary incidents (out-of-school suspensions or expulsions) during the previous two (2) school years. The student must submit as part of their initial transfer application official school records verifying they are a "citizen in good standing";

●  The student must demonstrate regular attendance habits; "regular attendance habits" are defined as no more than ten (10) full day absences or ten (10) absence events, excused or unexcused, during either of the previous two (2) school years. "Absence event" means consecutive (back-to-back) absences for a single illness or a medical issue; consecutive absences due to illness or a medical issue are "bundled" as one absence event. Ten (10) tardies to school or class in a single school year accumulate as one (1) absence event. Student attendance must be verified by official school attendance records.

Good standing criteria for nonresident students are listed below.

●  Maintaining no less than a "C-" in every course on every quarterly grade report for the previous two (2) school years.

●  No major school disciplinary incidents (out-of-school suspensions or expulsions), during the previous two (2) school years.

●  No more than ten (10) full day absences or ten (10) absence events, excused or unexcused, during either of the previous two (2) school years. "Absence event" means consecutive (back-to-back) absences for a single illness or a medical issue; consecutive absences due to illness or a medical issue are "bundled" as one absence event. Ten (10) tardies to school or class in a single school year accumulate as one (1) absence event.

Please note the following schools are closed and are not accepting In-District Transfer, Employee student, or Nonresident Transfer requests for the 2026-27 school year due to high enrollment:

●  Belinder Elementary

●  Briarwood Elementary

●  Brookridge Elementary

●  Corinth Elementary

●  Highlands Elementary

●  Prairie Elementary

●  Tomahawk Elementary

●  Westwood View Elementary

●  Indian Hills Middle School 

Unless otherwise specified in JBCA, it is the policy of this District that a student shall be required to attend the school designated for the attendance area in which the student resides. A student may be permitted to transfer to a school outside of the student's attendance area.

A. Criteria for Transfers

1.  A request for transfer of a student from one school to another may be made by a parent, legal guardian or lawful custodian of a student.

2.  A transfer request will be denied if the request is deemed by district staff not to be in the best educational interests of the student.

3.  The student must be in good standing.

All in-district transfer students must meet the following good standing criteria:

If the student is applying for a transfer for grades 8-12, the student must be in good standing academically at the school he/she currently attends; "academic good standing" is defined as maintaining no less than a "D" in every course on every quarterly grade report for the previous two (2) school years, excluding any grades from elementary school. Academic standing must be verified by official school documents;

The student must be a citizen in good standing at the school he/she currently attends; a "citizen in good standing" is defined as having no major school disciplinary incidents (out-of-school suspensions or expulsions) during the previous two (2) school years. The student must submit as part of their initial transfer application official school records verifying they are a "citizen in good standing";

The student must demonstrate regular attendance habits; "regular attendance habits" are defined as no more than ten (10) full day absences or ten (10) absence events, excused or unexcused, during either of the previous two (2) school years. "Absence event" means consecutive (back-to-back) absences for a single illness or a medical issue; consecutive absences due to illness or a medical issue are "bundled" as one absence event. Ten (10) tardies to school or class in a single school year accumulate as one (1) absence event. Student attendance must be verified by official school attendance records.

Students who were unable to meet the good standing criteria for attendance and/or grades due to a physical or mental impairment or disability which prevented them from regularly attending school may be granted an exemption from the good standing criteria for attendance and/or grades. The parent/guardian or student must submit sufficient medical documentation which demonstrates the student's inability to regularly attend school and which correlates to the student's attendance records and/or inability to be in academic good standing, due to such impairment or disability.

Generally, in-district transfers are not subject to revocation once transfer approval has been granted. However, the Associate Superintendent of Leadership and Learning, upon recommendation from a Director of Elementary or Secondary Services, has authority to revoke a student's transfer at the next grading period for truancy as defined in Policy JBE or for other extreme circumstances. A student who has had an in-district transfer revoked is not eligible to re-apply for transfer until reaching the next school level (middle, high).

B. Policy for Transfer Applicable to All Students

1.  Knowingly providing false information on the form shall be grounds for denial of the transfer application or revocation of a previously approved transfer.

2.  It is the policy of the District that students should not be transferred from one school to another merely to relieve one school of a student who has been involved in incidents requiring disciplinary action to be taken, unless the associate superintendent or their designee concludes that a “fresh start” is in the best interest of the student and the affected schools. If a transfer request is initiated during the school year by a parent, principal, or other school administrator in charge of student discipline due to student conduct, such request shall be made directly to the associate superintendent or their designee.

3.  Siblings of current in-district transfer students, and siblings of currently enrolled nonresident students who have a parent who is a current District employee, will be enrolled at the school where their sibling attends, unless that school is deemed closed due to capacity.

4.  In the event more students request a transfer to a particular school than there are spaces available, applications shall be considered as follows:

○  Siblings current nonresident students enrolled pursuant to Board policy JBCD receive first priority consideration.

○  Students of current District employees will receive the second priority consideration.

○  Remaining in-district transfer requests are considered in the order they are received.

The District reserves the right to deny if transfer requests exceed District guidelines.

C. Authority to Place Students

When unforeseen circumstances arise at a student's assigned school that cannot be problem-solved at the building level and the student is not eligible to transfer, an administrative placement to a different school, at any time during the school year, may be deemed necessary. The Associate Superintendent of Leadership and Learning, upon recommendation from a Director of Elementary or Secondary Services, may place a student at any school in the District when such placement is determined to be in the best interest of the student.

D. Transportation

The District shall not be required to provide transportation to in-district transfer students unless otherwise required to do so by state and/or federal law.

E. Eligibility for Certain Extracurricular Activities

Any student who transfers to a school outside of the student's attendance area of residence shall be subject to all eligibility rules of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and such eligibility rules as may be adopted by the Board of Education.

For SMSD students currently enrolled in grades K-11 for the 25-26 school year, nonresident Employee students, and for incoming kindergarten students starting the 26-27 school year

All requests for currently enrolled students, including In-District Transfer requests and Employee students, may be submitted electronically using the Skyward Family Access system. In order to complete the form, you MUST FIRST complete the enrollment process for your home school through the  online enrollment portal .

Transfer applications will NOT be considered unless you have done the following:

●  Have your student's previous school (if it is not a SMSD school) send your student's school records for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years to TransferRecords@smsd.org.

●  These records must include grades, itemized attendance, and discipline records (if there is no discipline record, have school send confirmation of no discipline record).

●  Records must be received from the previous school(s). These documents are due by January 16 to TransferRecords@smsd.org.  The Office of Leadership and Learning will not send notifications for incomplete records and incomplete applications will not be considered.

The form will be available beginning December 1 at 12:00 a.m. and will close on January 16 at 11:59 p.m.

ANY STUDENTS CURRENTLY APPROVED FOR A TRANSFER DO NOT NEED TO REAPPLY.

Please note:

❖  Due to lack of 2026-27 kindergarten enrollment data, very few, if any kindergarten requests will be approved.

❖  Any resident student or Employee student denied a transfer/enrollment during this window, or who misses this window, may apply in the Open Enrollment window.

❖  An employee hired after June 15 may submit a transfer request for their child directly to the Office of Leadership and Learning (913-993-6464).

Barring unforeseen circumstances,  In-District Transfer  and enrollment of nonresident Employee student  approvals and denials will be communicated  by the Office of Leadership and Learning via email no later than February 13, 2026. 

The Board of Education permits resident students to transfer to a school outside of the student's attendance area, subject to capacity and meeting good standing requirements (see Board policy JBCB). Additionally, Kansas law requires the Board to allow nonresident students to enroll in and attend the schools of the District, subject to capacity and meeting good standing requirements. In order to accept students during Open Enrollment, the Board has adopted this policy.

Nothing in this policy should be construed to guarantee placement of a student in any particular school, grade level, or program in the District. Placement in any grade level, school building, or program will be limited to those students determined to be eligible and qualified for such placement. All students, regardless of residency, may be assigned or transferred to or from any school or program at the discretion of the superintendent or their designee.

Details concerning Open Enrollment, as well as continued enrollment processes for nonresident students, may be found in this policy. Details concerning In-District transfer of resident students, as well as continued transfer of In-District Transfer students, may be found in Board policy JBCB. General processes on enrollment documentation, assignment to buildings and classes, etc., may be found in Board policy JBC.

This policy does not apply to any virtual school, as defined by Kansas law, or to any school located on a military installation.

Any child who is experiencing homelessness will be permitted to enroll in and attend the school district of origin or the school district of residence without application and acceptance through this policy.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply.

“Nonresident student” means a child of school age, pursuant to Kansas law, who resides in Kansas and who is enrolled and in attendance at or seeking to enroll and attend a school located in a Kansas district where such student is not a resident.

“Open Enrollment” means the window identified by state statute beginning January 1 and ending June 15 when the District accepts applications from nonresident students, as well as applications from any other Shawnee Mission student desiring to attend another school who has not previously been approved for an in-district transfer.

“Parent” means and includes natural parents, adoptive parents, stepparents, and foster parents.

“Person acting as parent” means:

A.   A guardian or conservator; or

B.   a person, other than a parent, who:

i.    Is liable by law to maintain, care for or support the child;

ii.   has actual care and control of the child and is contributing the major portion of the cost of support of the child;

iii.  has actual care and control of the child with the written consent of a person who has legal custody of the child; or

iv.  has been granted custody of the child by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Receiving school district” means a school district of nonresidence of a student who attends school in such school district.

“Sibling” means a brother or sister of the whole or half blood, adoptive brother or sister, a stepbrother or stepsister, a foster brother or foster sister.

Determining Capacity for Open Enrollment

The superintendent or designee has the responsibility for studying capacity in each school of the District and at each grade level within each school and for making recommendations to the Board regarding the District’s capacity to accept students during Open Enrollment.  To make recommendations to the Board to assist with determining capacity, the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee(s) will do the following:

The superintendent or designee will develop recommendations on capacity and classroom student-to-teacher ratios in each grade level in each school serving kindergarten students and students in grades one through eight.  Such recommendations may be based on, but not be limited to, the following factors:

●  Present classroom student-teacher ratios in each grade level in each school;

●  projected enrollment shifts based on the resident student population, which may include a percentage adjustment for anticipated growth or decline based on documented enrollment trends; and

●  maximum capacity of the classroom and associated learning, activity, and common area spaces.

The superintendent or designee will develop recommendations on capacity and student-to-teacher ratios for each school building or program serving students in grades nine through twelve.  Such recommendations may be based on, but not be limited to, the following factors:

●  Present building or program student-teacher ratios;

●  projected enrollment shifts based on the resident student population, which may include a percentage adjustment for anticipated growth or decline based on documented enrollment trends;

●  anticipated demand for particular courses or programming; and

●  maximum capacity of the classroom and associated learning, activity, and common area spaces.

On or before May 1 of each year, the superintendent will present the recommendations concerning capacity and student-to-teacher ratios to the Board for adoption or modification, and the Board will determine, for each grade level in each school building of the District for the next succeeding school year, the following:

●  Capacity based on the study conducted by the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee;

●  the estimated number of students expected to attend school in the District; and

●  the estimated number of open seats available during Open Enrollment at each grade, building, or program.

On or before June 1 of each year, the District will publish the estimated number of open seats available in each grade level for each school building of the District for the next succeeding school year on the District's website.

From January 1 through June 15, District administration will accept Open Enrollment applications from nonresident students seeking to enroll in the District in the next school year. (Applications from nonresident students who have a parent who is a current District employee also will be accepted and processed during the earlier window for In-District Transfers up until the end date of Open Enrollment, which is June 15.) Applications that are not complete and/or that do not include the required school records to verify good standing as of the end of Open Enrollment (June 15) will not be processed. The District does not request any school records for applicants; applicants are solely responsible for obtaining and submitting the required school records, including final school records for the last semester of the current school year, with their application and by no later than the end of Open Enrollment (June 15). The District will process applications in a non-discriminatory manner and in adherence with federal and state non-discrimination laws.

If the number of qualified applications for a grade level, school building, or program is less than the number of available seats for that grade level, school building, or program, the qualified students who submitted applications and who meet all applicable criteria will be accepted.

If the number of applications for a grade level, school building, or program is greater than the number of available seats for the grade level, school building, or program, District administration will first select qualified students for approval using the below priority in filling open seats and then, if there are still available seats, randomly select from the qualified students using a confidential lottery process. This process will be completed on or before July 15 of each year.

The District will provide to the parent or person acting as a parent of a student who was not accepted in Open Enrollment the reason for the nonacceptance or denial and an explanation of the selection process on or before July 30 of each year.

Priority in Filling Open Seats

The following categories of students will be allowed to enroll as if resident students if they are deemed to be in good standing by District administration:

●  Any child who is in the custody of the Department for Children and Families and who is living in the home of a current enrolled nonresident student; or

●  Any nonresident student who has a parent or person acting as parent employed by the District, while the parent or person acting as a parent remains employed by the District.

If one of these exceptions no longer applies to the student, the student’s enrollment status would be subject to review.

Subject to having capacity, the District will give priority in Open Enrollment according to the below-listed order of lottery exceptions in the order in which they were received, without the necessity of going through the open seat lottery.

1.  Qualified students who are a sibling of a current transfer student (meaning a current In-District Transfer student or current enrolled nonresident student).

2.  Any qualified nonresident student who is a military student as defined in K.S.A. 72-5139, with priority given when the student is first accepted and, if necessary, at any other time the District considers transfer applications.

Subject to capacity, all other qualified students will be entered into the random lottery.

Prohibitions Regarding Open Enrollment Provisions of this Policy

The District will not:

●  Charge tuition or fees to any nonresident student who transfers to the District pursuant to this policy, except fees that are otherwise charged to every student enrolled in and attending school in the District (nonresident students, like all students, will be responsible for payment of applicable fees for fee-based programs); or

●  accept or deny a nonresident student transfer based on ethnicity; national origin; gender; income level; disabling condition; proficiency in the English language; or measure of achievement, aptitude, or athletic ability; or any other reason prohibited by law.

Except for a child in the custody of the Department for Children and Families or a child who is experiencing homelessness, a nonresident student will not transfer more than once per school year to one or more receiving school districts pursuant to the provisions of this policy or authorizing Kansas law.

Resident Students who Move Outside the District During a School Year

When a student moves outside the District (but remains a Kansas resident) after the beginning of a school year, they will be permitted to continue enrollment and attendance in the District until such student graduates from high school, reaches the age of 21 (if the student is a student with an exceptionality, not solely eligible for gifted services under an individualized education program), or receives a G.E.D., unless such student is no longer deemed by District administration to be in good standing. The student will not be required to submit an application during Open Enrollment.

Transportation of Nonresident Students

Neither a resident school district nor a receiving school district will be required to provide transportation to nonresident students unless otherwise required by applicable law.

KSHSAA Eligibility

Nothing in this policy or state law will exempt a nonresident student who transfers into the District from the requirements of the Kansas State High School Activities Association (“KSHSAA”) regarding eligibility to participate in KSHSAA activities.

Information Share with the Kansas State Department of Education

The superintendent will annually submit or have submitted to the Kansas State Department of Education this policy, the number of nonresident student transfers approved and denied in each grade level and whether the denials were based on capacity or in accordance with the policy’s terms, as required.

Nonresident Student Continued Enrollment

A nonresident student who has been accepted for enrollment and attendance at a District school will be permitted to continue enrollment and attendance in the District until such student graduates from high school, reaches the age of 21 (if the student is a student with an exceptionality, not solely eligible for gifted services under an individualized education program), or receives a G.E.D., unless such student is no longer deemed by District administration to be in good standing.

Except as otherwise specified herein, nonresident students who have previously been accepted for enrollment by the District will be allowed to continue enrollment in the District as specified above.  The District will not require parents of such students or adult or emancipated students to resubmit a new application each school year.

Good Standing Criteria

A nonresident student may be denied enrollment or continued enrollment for not being in good standing.  Nonresident students admitted to the District will be evaluated by District administration to determine standing for continued enrollment.  Nonresident students may be denied continued enrollment for the next grading period based on the results of these evaluations.  However, if the student has a disability, the student’s ability to meet these expectations will be considered prior to denying continued enrollment in the District. Similarly, administration will consider the adverse impact of homelessness on a student's attendance and any resulting suspensions or expulsions before making a determination on the continued enrollment of a student who is homeless. As part of this reflection, administration shall consider the obstacles a homeless student faces to arrive at school on time or each day due to housing instability, lack of transportation, or lack of other basic resources that can hinder consistent attendance.

A nonresident student failing to meet one or more of the following criteria as verified by official school records will automatically be deemed not in good standing and may be denied continued enrollment based solely thereon.

●  Maintaining no less than a "C-" in every course on every quarterly grade report for the previous two (2) school years.

●  No major school disciplinary incidents (out-of-school suspensions or expulsions), during the previous two (2) school years.

●  No more than ten (10) full day absences or ten (10) absence events, excused or unexcused, during either of the previous two (2) school years. "Absence event" means consecutive (back-to-back) absences for a single illness or a medical issue; consecutive absences due to illness or a medical issue are "bundled" as one absence event. Ten (10) tardies to school or class in a single school year accumulate as one (1) absence event.

Students who were unable to meet the good standing criteria for attendance and/or grades due to a physical or mental impairment or disability which prevented them from regularly attending school may be granted an exemption from the good standing criteria for attendance and/or grades. The parent/guardian or student must submit sufficient medical documentation which demonstrates the student's inability to regularly attend school and which correlates to the student's attendance records and/or inability to be in academic good standing, due to such impairment or disability.

Further, a nonresident student meeting one or more of the following criteria will automatically be deemed not in good standing and may be denied enrollment or continued enrollment based solely thereon:

●  The nonresident student or the student’s parent or person acting as a parent provided false or fraudulent information in the application process;

●  The nonresident student is not a resident of Kansas;

●  The nonresident student is currently under a period of suspension or expulsion from any school district, and such suspension or expulsion will not expire until after the next school year has begun (students with pending suspension or expulsion proceeding in another school district will not be admitted in the District until such suspension or expulsion proceedings have been concluded).

Appeal

If District administration denies the enrollment application of a nonresident student due to failure to meet good standing criteria, the parent or person acting as a parent of such student may appeal the decision to the Board. A current nonresident student who is determined not to be in good standing is not entitled to the appeal process outlined herein.

If a nonresident student's application for enrollment is denied because the student is determined not to be in good standing, the parent or person acting as a parent may submit a written appeal to the Board using the District's appeal form. The written appeal must be submitted to the clerk of the Board within 1 week (7 calendar days) of receiving notice that the student's application has been denied for lack of good standing. Such request should include the individual's reasons for disagreeing with the administration's decision and any supporting documentation. Within 15 calendar days, the Board or subcommittee of the Board will consider the written appeal, and the administration's written response thereto. The Board clerk will notify the requestor of the result of the appeal in writing within 3 days of the Board's decision.

For nonresident students in grades K-11 for the 25-26 school year, and for nonresident incoming kindergarten students starting 26-27 school year

All requests for nonresident students may be submitted electronically using the Skyward Family Access system. In order to complete the form, you  MUST FIRST complete the enrollment process for your home school through the online enrollment portal.

Families submitting enrollment applications after school offices close on May 29, 2026 will need to contact the Office of Leadership and Learning at 913-993-6464 following the submission of your enrollment application to finalize enrollment.

Transfer applications will NOT be considered unless you have done the following:

●  Have your student's previous school (if it is not a SMSD school) send your student's school records for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years to TransferRecords@smsd.org.

●  These records must include grades, itemized attendance, and discipline records (if there is no discipline record, have school send confirmation of no discipline record).

●  Records must be received from the previous school(s). These documents are due by June 15 to TransferRecords@smsd.org.  The Office of Leadership and Learning will not send notifications for incomplete records and incomplete applications will not be considered.

The form will be available beginning January 1 at 12:00 a.m. and will close on June 15 at 11:59 p.m.

ANY STUDENTS CURRENTLY APPROVED FOR A TRANSFER DO  NOT  NEED TO REAPPLY.

Please note:

❖  Due to lack of 2026-27 kindergarten enrollment data, very few, if any kindergarten requests will be approved.

❖  An employee hired after June 16 may submit a transfer request for their child directly to the Office of Leadership and Learning (913-993-6464).

Barring unforeseen circumstances, nonresident transfer approvals and denials will be communicated by the Office of Leadership and Learning via email no later than Thursday, July 30, 2026. 

JBC - Student Admissions to/Withdrawls from School

JBCB - In-District Transfers

JBCD - Open Enrollment and Enrollment of Nonresident Students 

JBCDD - Enrollment of Military Students