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Transfer Schools within the HDSB

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Optional attendance (transferring schools) is the process where students can apply to attend a school other than the school designated for their area of residence.

The Halton District School Board encourages students to attend their designated school but students can apply to a school outside of their home school if there is enough space to accommodate them.​

Students who transfer to another school are not eligible for Board provided transportation.

Elementary optional attendance pr​​ocess:

  • Contact the Principal of your designated school
  • School of choice is designated as “open school”
  • Primary class size is complied with
  • Ministry Early Learning Plan is complied with
  • Availability of space 
  • There is no need to create  a new class
  • There is no need to hire more staff  or increase resources
  • No need to displace students to other classes
  • No extra cost to Board
  • Babysitting/daycare is not a reason for granting a request

N​​​​ote:
The Halton District School Board must meet parameters set out by the Ministry of Education. The Board must ensure kindergarten and primary classes are compliant with class size caps determined by the ministry. Principals may not consider optional attendance in kindergarten and/or primary classes that have reached or are approaching primary class size cap.

Optional attendance documents for elementary ​​​​students

  • ​Schools open to Elementary Optional Attendance 2021​​​
  • Elementary Optional Attendance Administrative Procedure with application​​

Secondary School optional attendance process

In October:

  • Schools designated open are posted on the Board website
  • Applications are given out by the designated home secondary school  (refer to Appendix A in the Secondary Optional Attendance administrative procedure below)

Prior to 2nd F​​​​riday in January:

  • Completed applications are returned to home secondary school

Last week of F​​ebruary:

  • Area meetings are held by Superintendent
  • Decisions about all applications are made and communicated by March 1 

Prior ​​​to end of June

  • Appeal decision letter sent to parents by Superintendent of requested school

Optional attendance d​ocument​s for secondary school st​​udents

  • Schools open to Secondary Optional Attendance 2021​ 
  • Secondary Optional Attendance Administrative Procedure with application​​​

​App​​eals

Appeals to reconsider an application are permitted in situations where “extraordinary circumstances” need to be assessed. Appeals are to be submitted by parents, in writing, to the Superintendent(s) of Education of the requested school, copied to the home school and requested school Principal within 10 days of notification of application denied. The Superintendent(s) of Education makes decisions regarding appeals in consultation with the Principals involved, and communicates decisions in writing to the applicant and the schools. The decision of the Superintendent is final.

Parents do not need​ to reapply each year after approval but all optional attendance requests granted are subject to renewal annually.​

​

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Halton District School Board
J.W. Singleton Education Centre
2050 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario, L7P 5A8

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Phone: 905-335-3663
Fax: 905-335-9802

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