FILE:  JBCCA

Cf:  JBCC

JOINT CUSTODY STUDENT ATTENDANCE ZONE ELECTIONS

The Rapides Parish School Board, in instances of a judicial decree of separation or divorce in which joint custody has been ordered by the court, shall permit the parents of an affected child to elect to enroll the child in the school in the student attendance zone in which either parent resides; provided both parents agree, in a writing signed by each, to the student assignment.  The election shall be made for the commencement of each school year and, in order to be effective, must be communicated to the Assistant Superintendent for Administration, located at 619 Sixth Street, Alexandria, Louisiana 71031, not less than thirty (30) days before the first day on which students will attend classes for the school year in which the election is made.

Joint custody student elections must be made annually and in accordance with the requirements mentioned in the above paragraph.

A joint custody student election to assign an affected child to a school in the student attendance zone of a parent who does not have physical custody of the child at the commencement of a school year shall only be approved where both parents agree, in a writing signed by each, that they, or either of them, shall be responsible for the transportation of the child to and from his/her assigned school for the entirety of the school year at no cost to the school district.  This agreement must be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent for Administration not less than thirty (30) days before the first day on which students will attend classes for the school year in which the election is made.

If the election of a school for student assignment provided for in this policy is not jointly and timely made by the affected child's parents, the affected child shall attend the school in the student attendance zone of the parent having physical custody of the affected child at the commencement of the school year.  The student assignment shall be effective for the entirety of the school year, except in cases in which the parent with such physical custody at the commencement of the school year shall change his/her residence.  If such parent's new place of residence is in a different student attendance zone, the affected child's student assignment shall be the school for his/her grade level within the new student attendance zone.

Revised:  July, 2010

Ref:    Board minutes, 2-6-10, 7-6-10

Rapides Parish School Board