Butte School District

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

3110

Entrance, Placement, and Transfer

Entrance, Date and Age

No pupil may be enrolled in kindergarten or first grade, whose fifth (5th) or sixth (6th) birthday does not occur on or before the tenth (10th) day of September of the school year in which the child registers to enter school. A student who meets the six-(6) - years-old requirement, but who has not completed a kindergarten program, will be tested by the District and placed at the discretion of the administration. A birth certificate, certified transcript, or any documentary evidence that a school district considers to be satisfactory proof of identity, and an immunization record, are required for admission to the District. The District will not assign or admit any child who has reached his/her nineteenth (19th) birthday on or prior to September 10th of the year in which the child is to enroll. The trustees may, at their discretion, assign and admit a child to a school in the district who is outside the legal age of the Montana School Laws, if there are exceptional circumstances that merit waiving the age provision.

School Entrance

1. The District requires that a child’s parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian present to the school, at the time of enrollment, proof of identity of the child¹ or the child will not be enrolled.
   1. ^{​​​​​​For the purposes of this section “proof of identity” means a certified copy of a birth certificate, a certified transcript or similar student records from the previous school, or any documentary evidence that a school district considers to be satisfactory proof of identity. 44-2-511(6)(a), MCA}
2. In accordance with the Montana Immunization Law, a student will not be admitted who has not been immunized against varicella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubella, mumps, and measles in the manner and with immunizing agents approved by the department.  If the student qualifies for conditional attendance or an exemption is filed as defined by Montana law, immunization may not be required.
3. The above requirements are not to serve as barriers to immediate enrollment of students designated as homeless or foster children as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the McKinney-Vento Act as amended by ESSA. The District shall work with the local child welfare agency, the school last attended, or other relevant agencies to obtain necessary enrollment documentation.

Placement

The goal of the District shall be to place students at levels and in settings that will enhance the probability of student success. Developmental testing, together with other relevant criteria, including, but not limited to, health, maturity, emotional stability, and developmental disabilities, may be considered in the placement of all students. Final disposition of all placement decisions rests with the principal, subject to review by the Superintendent and the Board.

Transfer

District policies regulating pupil enrollment from other accredited elementary and secondary schools are designed to protect the educational welfare of the child and of other children enrolled in the District.

Elementary Grades (K-8): Any student transferring into the District will be admitted and placed on a probationary basis for a period of two (2) weeks. Should any doubt exist with teacher and/or principal as to grade and level placement of the student, the student shall be subject to an educational assessment to determine appropriate grade and level placement.

During the two-(2)-week probationary period, the student will be subject to observation by the teacher and building principal.

Secondary Grades (9-12), Credit Transfer: Requests for transfer of credits from any secondary school shall be subject to a satisfactory examination of the following:

1. Appropriate certificates of accreditation.
2. Length of course, school day, and school year.
3. Content of applicable courses.
4. The school facility as it relates to credit earned (i.e., lab areas for appropriate science or vocational instruction).
5. An appropriate evaluation of student performance leading toward credit issuance.
6. Final approval of transfer credits will be determined by the high school principal, subject to review upon approval by the Superintendent and the Board.
    

Montana Accreditation Rules and Standard, in accordance with local alternate procedures for earning credit, shall be applied to all credit transfer reviews.

Legal Reference:             
§ 20-5-101, MCA             Admittance of child to school
§ 20-5-403, MCA             Immunization required – release and acceptance of immunization records
§ 20-5-404, MCA             Conditional attendance
§ 20-5-405, MCA             Medical or religious exemption
§ 20-5-406, MCA             Immunization record
§ 44-2-511, MCA             School Enrollment Procedure
10.10.16.3122, ARM       Local Educational Agency Responsibility For Students with Disabilities
10.55.601 et seq., ARM   Accreditation Standards: Procedures

Policy History:
Adopted on: 10/18/04
Revised on:  05/17/10, 11/20/17, 05/17/2019