Topics on this page

• Maryland School Transfer Form
• Pupil Personnel Worker
• Other Documentation/Proof
• Transfers During the School Year
• Transfer Denials

Students may have to transfer from one school to another within the Maryland public school system. The transfer may occur at any time during the school year, and families have certain rights when it comes to this issue. The process and procedures may vary between local school systems.

If a student has had expulsions, suspensions, or certain other problems, the transfer may be harder. Problems may also arise if the courses the student took at the old school do not match up with any courses at the new school. Contact the new school to see whether these issues will affect the transfer.

Maryland School Transfer Form

To start the transfer process, schools require a transferring student to submit a Maryland School Transfer Form. This form notifies a school of your child's upcoming transfer and gives them the basic information they need to begin processing your child's records. Each school has these forms and is required to fill them out for the students.

• Contact your child's guidance counselor at the old school and explain that your child is transferring to a different school. Let them know what your child's last day at the school will be.
• Request the Maryland Transfer Form, and ask when you can pick it up.
• Set-Up An Appointment at the New School - Once you know what school your child will be attending, call them and set up an appointment. Take the completed form to the appointment with the new school.

Pupil Personnel Worker

If you have any questions on the requirements, or potential complications of school transfers, contact the Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) for the new school. Your local Board of Education. can provide you with the name and contact information of the PPW for your school system. Use the Department of Education's website to find your local Education Agency. The PPW can give you more detailed information on what specific steps you need to do to make the transfer as problem-free as possible.

Other Documentation/Proof

 When transferring your child to a new school in Maryland, you may be asked to provide certain documents to complete the enrollment process. Requirements can vary by school system, so it’s best to call the school directly to confirm what is needed.

• Proof of custody/guardianship. 

  • Schools use this documentation to verify who is responsible for the child and who makes educational decisions. Acceptable documents may include: 

    • a birth certificate,
    • a divorce decree, or
    • a court order. 

    This may not be an absolute requirement. 

  • NOTE: If the child lives with one parent but there is no custody order, or if the child lives with an informal kinship care provider, that adult should be allowed to enroll the child and make educational decisions.
  • Read the Law: Md. Code, Education Article § 4-122.1
• Proof of Residency.
  • To attend a Maryland public school, the student’s parent, legal guardian, legal custodian, or informal kinship care provider must be a resident of Maryland.
  • Read the Law: Md. Code, Education Article § 7-101
• Immunization Records.
  • All students must have up-to-date immunization records to enroll in and attend public school. If a student requires immunization updates, the student may be temporarily enrolled for up to 20 days to allow them to attend school pending the immunization updates.
  • There is an exception for homeless children who do not have the records.
  • Read the Law: Md. Code, Education Article § 7-403

Transfers During the School Year

In some situations, a student may have to transfer schools in the middle of a semester. This is generally not a problem. A student may transfer anytime during the school year and retain any credit for work done during that semester.

Difficulties may arise when a child needs to transfer to a new school towards the end of a semester, when all that is left are a few days of class or just exams. The principals of the old and new schools have the discretion with what to do for such situations. The student may be:

• allowed to not take the exam and be given credits for the work done at the prior school
• required to take the exams at his or her old school, or
• allowed to take exams at the new school.

If this situation occurs, make sure you contact both the student's former school and the new school to explain the situation. Ask the principal what the student will be required to do to ensure that they receive credits for the semester.

Transfer Denials

If a transfer is denied, you may be able to challenge the denial. You may also be entitled to a hearing about the denial. If a student’s school transfer is denied, you may wish to seek legal assistance.  

Read the Law: Md. Code, Education § 4-205(c)(3)