Planning a School Transfer? What You Need to Know

Think a change will do you good? 

Whether you’re seeking a new campus culture or administrative approach, a different grade level assignment, the opportunity to work in a specialized program, or just a shorter commute, a transfer might be on your mind. Whatever your reasons for seeking a transfer, it is important to recognize that transferring to a different assignment or campus can be more challenging than you would expect.

Many districts and charter schools do not allow mid-year transfers, so transferring between school years is often the only option. Knowing your district or charter school’s transfer process can help you approach a transfer request with confidence, ease, and realistic expectations.

Local policies shape the transfer process

State law does not address staff transfers in public schools, so districts and charter schools have local policies, sometimes unwritten, that dictate the process. If you are considering requesting a transfer, now is the time to prepare.

First, familiarize yourself with your district’s or charter school’s transfer procedure. Sometimes this is outlined in the employee handbook or board policy, but often it is not formally documented. Your district’s or charter school’s human resources office, principals, and supervisors should be familiar with the transfer process.

Districts and charter schools often open the transfer window early in the spring semester, so start keeping an eye out for those communications. The transfer window sometimes closes at a point near the end of the school year, but in other instances the window will only be open for a very short period of time, allowing only a few days or weeks to get on the list.

Eligibility and approval requirements matter

In addition to noting the applicable deadlines, you will need to identify the eligibility requirements for transferring. These can include but are not limited to the type of contract held (term vs. probationary), total years of experience, years of service in the district or charter school or on a particular campus, certification area, minimum appraisal scores, and acceptable student data.

Often, districts and charter schools will preclude staff from being able to request a transfer if they have appraisal scores lower than proficient or have received a reprimand or been placed on a professional growth plan. If you do meet all of the eligibility criteria, gather documentation in support of your qualifications, and be ready when the transfer window opens. Reach out to your professional contacts that may have information about potentially open positions, polish up your resume, and sharpen your interview skills, as the transfer process often requires interviewing with the hiring administrators.  

Perhaps most importantly, find out if your district or charter school requires that your current principal or supervisor approve employee transfers. This is a common requirement, and it will stop a transfer in its tracks if a principal or supervisor does not give it their blessing. If the current principal or supervisor’s approval is not required, then it is probably safe to celebrate once an offer is made, keeping in mind that districts and charter schools have authority to reassign employees at any time.