Parents who wish for their children to attend a different school in the fall may now be able to do so.

The Newton County School System identified eight schools as potentially eligible to receive students whose parents want to transfer their child under the provisions of House Bill 251.

After reviewing guidelines provided by the Georgia Department of Education, East Newton Elementary, Heard-Mixon Elementary, Livingston Elementary, Mansfield Elementary, Middle Ridge Elementary, Porterdale Elementary, Clements Middle and Veterans Memorial Middle schools were chosen by NCSS. No slots were available at the district’s three public high schools for the 2014-2015 school year.

HB 251 allows Georgia parents to request to transfer their students to a different school in the district as long as there is space in the classroom after its assigned students have been enrolled. A student who transfers to another school under the guidelines of this statute may continue to attend that school until all grades are completed.

Parents electing to use the choice option under HB 251 must cover all costs and responsibilities associated with the child’s transportation to and from the selected school. Parents must complete an NCSS HB 215 Transfer Request form and submit it either by hand delivery to the receptionist at the Newton County Board of Education, located at 2109 Newton Drive NE, Covington, or by fac to 770-784-4969.

The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Monday, July 14.

If the number of transfer requests exceeds the allotted seats available, openings will be filled by a public random lottery. Letters of acceptance or denial will be mailed to parents no later than July 18.

The form is posted and available for download on the NCSS website’s homepage.

For more information, contact the NCSS Department of Student Services at 770-787-1330 ext. 1205.