Last year, 435 students who live in Beaverton attended schools in other districts.
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They left for a variety of reasons ranging from specialized programs to parents' divorces. They took with them roughly $2.1 million in state funds.
Meanwhile, 137 students entered Beaverton from other school districts, bringing with them about $700,000.
That 3-to-1 difference was costing Beaverton, which worked with superintendents across Washington County to better balance the give-and-take of students among all seven districts.
The
helped draft a policy and rules for the transfer plan and will handle applications for all districts. Each district, however, will determine whether to allow or deny a student request.
Beaverton, which approved nearly all students wanting to leave the district, will likely benefit the most financially from the new rules -- at least for next school year.
Washington County school transfers (2010-11)
Beaverton School District
(39,000 students)
In Out
137 435
Hillsboro School District
(20,300 students)
In Out
225 223
Tigard-Tualatin School District
(12,700 students)
In Out
78 90
Forest Grove School District
(5,800 students)
In Out
81 121
Sherwood School District
(4,700 students)
In Out
22 66
Banks School District
(1,200 students)
In Out
54 27
Source: District data
Here's how it will work for the 2011-12 school year for all Washington County districts. Students who already attend schools outside their hometowns will be allowed to stay at the out-of-district school. However, kids wanting to attend outside districts for the first time may find it more difficult because the districts must maintain a balance (within five) of incoming and outgoing students.
"If the balance is already there, there won't be much of a noticeable difference," said Jim Mabbott, former NWRESD superintendent. "But when the imbalance is there, people will notice a change going forward."
For example, 72
students transferred to Beaverton schools in 2010-11, but 136 Beaverton students attended Hillsboro schools. That's a nearly 2-to-1 ratio. The new rules require a ratio closer to 1-to-1.
"If the two districts are beyond that (plus or minus five students), the answer is more than likely going to be 'no,'" Mabbott said.
In other words, no new students would be allowed to transfer from Beaverton to Hillsboro next school year. However, students will be able to transfer from Hillsboro to Beaverton until the balance of students is more equal.
Several districts outside Washington County also have a large imbalance with Beaverton. Last year, 122 Beaverton kids attended Portland schools, but
approved only 13 students to attend Beaverton schools.
, near Lake Oswego, had 55 Beaverton students, but Beaverton had no Riverdale kids. Until the imbalance improves, no new students will be released to attend those districts.
If the student's home district says 'no,' parents have the option to pay tuition in those districts, which is around $6,000 for most. Riverdale charges more than $11,000 tuition.
In Washington County, Beaverton has the largest imbalance, which will restrict more students from leaving. Most other districts appear to have an equal balance between each other, and new students hoping to attend those schools will fare better.
Word leaked out about the pending changes this spring, but no one informed parents who had already applied for their kids to attend other school districts.
In Hillsboro, Debbie Epling heard rumors and worried that her son and daughter would have to return from attending school in
.
"I would be a very unhappy parent," she said. "I pay my taxes and I would like to choose the Banks area."
Epling learned her kids, a ninth-grade daughter and an eighth-grade son, would be allowed to stay in Banks because they were already attending that district.
"I like the smaller environment and country atmosphere," Epling said of Banks schools.
Just when parents have it all figured out, however, the process is expected to change for the 2012-13 school year as state legislation kicks into place. The new rules would require districts to release all students who want to attend schools in other districts.
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