News: Loudoun County School Board "School Choice" Vote Won't Allow Athletes to Transfer to Play if VHSL Has Say

(Jan. 23, 2013) - Very quietly last night the Loudoun County School Board passed a "School Choice" measure that upon first glance could have an impact on athletics in Loudoun as early as the fall season. In a split vote the board approved open enrollment that allows students to transfer to any public school in the county that has available space with no reason needed for the transfer.

Obviously some families might want to take advantage of this rule to get their children into athletic programs of their choice not in their home attendance zone.

The Virginia High School League, however, has a Transfer Rule for public high school athletics that prohibits the transfer of students from one school to another specifically for athletic reasons. So any athletes trying to take advantage of the new Loudoun rules may find themselves on the sidelines.


(See the VHSL Transfer Rules here, starting on page 69).

Reading the VHSL Transfer Rule, it appears that Loudoun athletes may still need to get a waiver from the school system if they do transfer and wish to play without sitting out an entire year. The transfer rule allows a student to play at a new school not in his or her attendance zone if a school board has granted them a waiver of the Transfer Rule. Such waivers are for the consideration of the welfare of the student and/or school system and not for athletic and/or activity purposes.

Loudoun County School Board chairman Eric Hornberger says in an email that the "policy revisions adopted by the Board regarding school assignment maintain the same underlying restrictions on athletic issues as the previous version of the policy. In fact, some could say even more, as a Special Permission must be secured annually when granted."


Hornberger added that the new policy "goes a long way to reduce bureaucratic "red tape" associated with validating special exceptions around a much more transparent framework and puts greater decision-making on this issue in the hands of parents rather than school officials."

More on the "School Choice" vote Tuesday: The Leesburg Today has a detailed article available here, including the rationale for the shift which centers a lot on parents at the elementary school level.

Looking at current and projected enrollments and building capacity, the following high schools could be considered under enrollment: Champe, Freedom, Heritage, Loudoun Valley, Park View and Woodgrove.

As part of the new rule, parents will have to supply their own transportation if they move their kids to another school.