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Governing Board Policies

Section J - Students

Policy Title: Student Admissions
Policy Code: JF
Lead Department: School Community Services

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Tucson Unified School District will admit students in accordance with state and federal law, District policies and regulations.

Definitions:

  • District of Residency - The district where the student resides.
  • Primary School - The school the student is assigned by neighborhood, open enrollment, magnet, special needs, or alternative.
  • Ancillary School - A second school a student attends to meet their career and/or educational goals.

Admissions of Resident Students
Students seeking admission to the district and its instructional programs must satisfactorily meet all residency, age, immunization, and other eligibility prerequisites as established by Board policy and law.

Upon registration all new students shall be required to present:

  • Proof of date of birth.
  • Record of immunizations - Board Policy # JLCB - Immunizations of Students
  • Proof of residency - Board Policy # JF-R - Student Admission Regulation

A student who resides in the District will be assigned to a primary school according to the designated attendance zone (Policy # JC - School Attendance Zones) in which the student resides unless:

  • The student transfers to another District school pursuant to Policy JFB - Enrollment and School Choice;
  • The student is homeless and will be admitted in accordance with Policy # JFABD - Admission of Homeless Students.
  • The Superintendent or designee assigns or reassigns the student to another school for any of the following reasons:
    • The student's Individualized Education Plan for services requires the placement.
    • The student refuses to comply with rules, refuses to pursue the required course of study, or refuses to submit to the authority of teachers, administrators or the Governing Board; or
    • The assignment is an alternative to long term suspension or expulsion.
  • Governing Board assigns or reassigns a student based on disciplinary action.

A student may attend an ancillary school/program within TUSD for the purpose of:

  • taking a course or courses for the purpose of meeting their career objectives (JTED, CTE, language, Advanced Placement, etc.)
  • specific needs, time alternatives, or extra support - alternative school
  • online classes - distance learning, correspondence courses

A student may attend a school outside of TUSD for the purpose of Joint Technological Education District (JTED).

Late Registrations
Children must be accepted in our schools in Grades K-12 on any date regardless of previous attendance. Grades and credits will transfer from accredited schools in support of the student's progress toward meeting State Standards. Staff will make every effort to provide opportunities to make up instructional time to master the subject matter.

Non-Resident Students
The Governing Board may admit children who do not reside in the District but who reside within the State according to the following terms:

  • The student is the child of a United States resident who is not a resident of Arizona, if this is in the best interest of the student and the student is placed with a relative per A.R.S. 15-823 and the placement is not to avoid tuition payment
  • The student is a child of a nonresident teaching or research faculty member of a community college district or state university or a nonresident graduate or undergraduate student of a community college district or state university whose parent's presence at the district or university is of international, national, state, or local benefit.
  • The student presents a certificate of educational convenience issued by the County School Superintendent pursuant to A.R.S. 15-825.
  • The student is enrolled in a JTED program and chooses a program or class offered by TUSD. Admission will be based on student choice and space availability.
  • Transportation will be the responsibility of the District of residence.

Tuition
A high school student qualifying for graduation at the end of the school year and attaining age 21 during the course of the year may complete that year, tuition free.

The District shall admit the following students, charging tuition as prescribed in statute:

  • The child of an Arizona resident who is not a resident of the District, if the District provides a high school and the student is a resident of an Arizona common school district that is not in a high school district and that does not offer instruction in the student's grade. Special circumstances may apply in accordance with A.R.S. 15-2041 after three hundred fifty (350) students have been admitted.
  • For an Arizona resident who is not a resident of the District, if the district of residence provides only financing for students who are instructed by another school district and for students from a unified district that does not offer instruction in the student's grade.
  • A student who is issued a certificate of educational convenience to attend school in the School District or adjoining the school district to that in which the pupil is placed by an agency of this state or a state or federal court of competent jurisdiction, as provided in A.R.S. 15-825.

Foreign Exchange Students
The District may admit nonresident foreign exchange students who are enrolled through approved foreign exchange programs without payment of tuition.

Expelled Students
TUSD is not required by law to admit a student who has been expelled from another educational institution or who is in the process of being expelled from another educational institution. However, TUSD may admit a student who was expelled from another institution for attendance reasons only. TUSD will not under any circumstances admit a student who has been expelled or in the process of being expelled from another institution if the reason is related to the safety of students or staff.

Suspended Students

  • If a suspended student transfers from another District or school outside TUSD, TUSD must accept the student. However, the student may be placed in an alternative program for a period no longer than the other school's suspension.
  • If a student is dual enrolled and has a suspension it must be upheld.
  • If a student is dual enrolled and has an in-house suspension it must be fully completed at the issuing school.

Adopted: July 24, 2007

Legal Ref: A.R.S. 15-828 Birth certificate; school records; exception . 8-201 Enrollment policies
15-816 through 15-816.07 Desegregation provisions
15-821 Admission of Students
15-823 through 15-825 Admissions, residents of other school district;
nonresidents of this state; tuition; homeless children tuition charges
15-841 Responsibilities of pupils; expulsion
42 U.S.C. 11301, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act of 2001

Cross Ref: JC - School Attendance Zones
JEB - Entrance Age Requirements
JFABD - Admission of Homeless Students
JFB - Enrollment and School Choice
JG - Assignment of Students to Classes and Grade Levels
JLCB - Immunizations of Students
JLH - Missing Students
JR - Student Records
IKF - Graduation Requirements

Replaces TUSD Policy # 5015 - Birth Certificate; # 5030 - Name Registration Procedure; # 5085 Non-Resident High School Students; # 3130 Tuition; # 6370 Enrolling in 1 Period Course in Another High School; # 5040 Late Registration and Early Leavers; # 5065 Students Expelled from other Districts.