HB 1435: Make it easier for students to move between public schools

House Bill 1435, sponsored by Rep. Jansen Owen, would allow students to transfer to public schools outside of their residentially assigned school district without having to get approval from the student’s home district. Approval would still have to be granted by the district to which the student wants to move (the receiving district).

State law currently allows any student to transfer to another district, but only if the transfer is first approved by the school board of the district where the student lives, and then by the receiving district.

In practice, some Mississippi districts form agreements between or among themselves for student transfers, while others choose not to approve any student transfers. Some review requests on a case-by-case basis, but in most cases, the process is not transparent. 

Under the proposed bill, a student would be able to transfer to any school district in the state subject to the available capacity of that district to accept transfer students, rather than needing the approval of the home school district. The proposed bill would also provide more clarity for parents by requiring districts to develop transfer policies and publicly post the number of seats available for each grade. 

School districts would also be required to report on the number of transfer requests, including the number of students accepted and denied. 

Empower Mississippi supports this legislation

HB 1435 has passed the House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate for consideration. You can read the bill here.