Take an active role in your child’s transfer process. A mid-year transfer can be stressful for everyone, including your child’s teachers, so make sure you are aware of all of the requirements involved.
You can request coursework from your child’s new teachers, and go over this coursework with your child so they know what to expect from a new school and classroom. A tutor may be necessary for the first few months if your child’s current curriculum is behind the new curriculum. If this is the case, talk with your child about tutoring beforehand and explain why it is necessary.
You can request to contact the PTA through the school office, or, if distance permits, you can go directly to the school, explain your situation, and approach some of the parents you see dropping off or picking up their children. Have questions prepared prior to talking to parents. In the particulars of introducing yourself to someone new, you might accidentally forget a few important points to touch on. You might ask how their children like the school, if they have experienced any troubles with any faculty or staff, if homework and testing are rigorous–ask questions to get a better idea of what your child should expect.
Begin by explaining your intent with your child’s teacher or teachers. Ask them how you can help make the transition a smooth one. Visit your current school and new school’s offices (or call, if the distance is too great). Determine exactly what needs to be done prior to transferring, and how you can help it go quickly and easily.
Take some time to thank any teachers or faculty members who have had a significant impact on your child’s life.
A binder or file folder will be sufficient to keep all papers intact. If you have multiple children, or multiple schools, divide the paperwork accordingly, and carefully label each storage container.
If your child has been diagnosed with a disability of any kind, you may be required to provide additional medical information, such as medicine and dosage information, diagnosis information, etc. If your child suffers any particularly volatile illness such as epilepsy, make sure you let your child’s new school know. In such cases, it is best to give your child and the school a small card with emergency contact information.
If possible, wait to move schools until your child has completed a semester or quarter; transcripts are much easier to provide if a grading period has ended and grades have been distributed. Although it is not impossible to create transcripts in the middle of a semester or quarter, it will require additional notes and may be an added obstacle in your child’s new school. Find out if your child’s new school requires transcripts to be sealed. Some schools require transcripts to be delivered in sealed envelopes directly from the institution they originated from. Although this is not common in elementary, middle, and high school, it can be a frustrating obstacle to encounter.
Utility bills are usually accepted forms of proof of address. These might be difficult to come by your first month of living in a new place, but you may be able to request a “proof of service” letter from your utility companies. If you have purchased a new home, your home deed’s title page should be enough to verify your address. To keep this important document safe, it is best to make a copy to deliver to your child’s school. Bank statements are often acceptable address proof forms, though some establishments might not be willing to accept these. Contact the school office to ensure this is an acceptable form of address proof.
Middle schools and high schools use school IDs in most areas. These will be acceptable forms of identification, if they are available.
These forms are also good to have on hand to get an idea of where your child is in their curriculum. If teachers or other faculty members have questions, you can refer them to your child’s transcripts directly.
Discuss how the first day at a new school may look when transferring in the middle of the year. [9] X Research source Talk about how children might react to new students, how to talk to the teachers if you need help, etc. Offer to escort your child to their new classroom or homeroom. Although many children will decline, some may need the added boost of confidence having a parent present provides.
Acquaint yourself with elective courses, as well as after-school activities, and go over them with your child or children, helping them choose which to enroll in. Start slow. Your child may have a wide range of interests, but scheduling too many activities may overwhelm your child, particularly in the wake of a move. Start with 1-2 activities, and build from there. [10] X Trustworthy Source Child Mind Institute Nonprofit organization providing evidence-based care for children with mental health and learning disorders and their families Go to source
Keep these interactions friendly. You might feel defensive if your child begins to struggle, but you need teachers and coaches to be your allies.
If you don’t currently have routines, ask your child or children what types of traditions they might like to start. This will help them have some control over their day-to-day activities and may ease some of the difficulty of moving schools. If your child moved schools due to a parent’s job change and old routines are no longer possible, try to mimic them as closely as possible. If you can no longer be there for breakfast, for instance, make breakfast before you leave for work and have it ready for your kids. [13] X Research source
If you notice your child has still not been able to assimilate within a reasonable time frame (4-8 weeks), calmly discuss with your child any ways you can help make the transition easier.
