Pullman Public Schools

Out-of-District Transfer Requests

Enrolling Non-Resident Students

We welcome students from outside the Pullman School District to enroll in our schools. However, there are some guidelines:

Priority to Local Students: We ensure that the needs of our resident students are met first.
Financial Considerations: Enrollment of non-resident students must not cause financial strain on our district.
Behavior and Attendance: Non-resident students must have satisfactory attendance and disciplinary records, as set by our school board.

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Annual Enrollment Requirements for Non-Resident Students

Annual Enrollment Requirements for Non-Resident Students

Non-resident students must reapply each year to continue attending Pullman Public Schools. Here's how:

1. Submit a New Application Each Year: Complete an Out-of-District (Choice) Transfer form and submit it to your home school district.

2. Sign Choice Student Contract Annually. This is included on page 3 of the Choice Transfer Form 3141F. This must be signed by both the student and parent/guardian annually.

3. Request Release: Use the OSPI Choice Transfer Portal to request a release from your resident district. If you don’t have access, you can manually get a signature from your district on the transfer form.

4. Review Process: Your application will be reviewed by the requested school’s principal, the superintendent, and the assistant superintendent (if applicable)

Application Process And Timeline

Every year, you must submit a Choice Transfer Request from your home district. Each child needs a separate application.

Ensure all questions about your child's attendance, behavior, and program needs (e.g., special education, Title I, ELL) are fully answered.
Non-resident students do not have an elementary attendance area school, but you may pick your top two choices using the out-of-district (choice) transfer form. Pullman Schools cannot guarantee that your top school choices will have space available for your student.

Your student can only be assigned to schools and programs when space is available for students outside the district zones. To be accepted, that space must be available for your student's grade level and program needs.

School assignments based on an address within the school district are not automatically continued if the student becomes a non-resident. If a student moves out of the district, a choice transfer form must be submitted immediately upon the change of residence.
Submit your application by June 30th. Late applications may not be considered until after the school year begins. For the 2025-2026 school year, transfer applications will be reviewed on August 7, 2025.
Applications can take up to four weeks to process. If you apply by the deadline of June 30th, you should receive a response within the first two weeks of August.
The transfer is not complete until your home district (resident district) releases your child and Pullman School District accepts the request.
You’ll receive an email confirming the submission of the application as well as an email confirming the approval or denial of your application. If denied, the email will list a reason and information on how to appeal the decision.
Children of full-time or part-time Pullman School District employees can submit an out-of-district transfer form to attend the school where the employee works.
District policy governs whether a non-resident student may attend Pullman Public Schools. Factors taken into consideration include space availability; program capacity and/or cost; history of suspensions or expulsions; and concerns with attendance or behavior.

As outlined in policy 3141, in the event that the application for admission to the non-resident district or the request for release from your district is denied, the superintendent or designated staff member will notify the parent or guardian of the reason(s) for denial and the right to petition the Board of Directors, upon five school business day's prior notice, for review of the decision and to have a hearing before the board at its next regular meeting.

Following the hearing by the board, a final decision will be promptly communicated to the parent in writing. The final decision of the district to deny the admission of a no-resident student may be appealed to the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee pursuant to the process detailed in RCW 28A.225.230 and below.

If your non-resident student transfer request is denied after appealing to the school district, you have the right to appeal that decision before an Administrative Law Judge with the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).Parents are not required to first follow a school district's appeal process before submitting an appeal to OAH.

If you choose to submit an appeal to OAH to request a hearing, complete the Notice of Appeal Form. Send only the appeal application form and a copy of the denial letter/email to (a brief cover letter is optional):

Student Transfer Appeal
Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH)
600 University Street, Suite 1500
Seattle, WA 98101-3126

Appeals may also be filed via email: the Office of Administrative Hearings. The notice of appeal form must be sent by secure email. If you do not have a secure email password, send an email to this address without the form attached to request instructions for filing the form by secure email.

Fax: 206-587-5135

Parents should be sure to have their child enrolled in a school while they are waiting to hear the outcome of their appeal.