Every year many parents seek to transfer their children from one school to another. Reasons vary: Some parents seek transfers because they are dissatisfied with their current school; others want their children to be closer to their place of work or to a childcare provider or family member. Whatever the reason, be aware that obtaining a transfer is a complex and confusing process with no guarantee of success. However, with persistence and understanding of the specific transfer a student is eligible for, you may be the lucky one who gets a transfer. The Office of Student Enrollment Planning and Operations (OSEPO),which has offices in every borough, generally has the final word about transfers.

Who decides

There are enrollment offices in every borough with a staff in charge of all enrollment and transfer issues for grades kindergarten-12.

Transfers are increasingly hard to come by. You'll have the most luck in being granted a transfer for reasons of health or safety or if you attend a school that is deemed to be failing by the State Department of Education.

In this section, you can find information on:

• transferring to a better school and NCLB transfers
• transfers for safety reasons
• transfers for other reasons
• forced transfers and discharges
• transfer high schools and alternative programs