Parents are increasingly wondering what the deadlines are for transferring to middle school, whether there are time limits, and other related questions. Indeed, parents are confused; although the web and artificial intelligence provide guidance and experiences from other parents, they don’t always provide accurate, legally-based answers.
First, we need to distinguish between transfers from one state or private school to another and withdrawal to continue at a school as an external candidate with a final aptitude test.
Let’s look at some examples: student Marta is in her seventh year of middle school at a state or private school in her city. Her parents decide to transfer Marta to another state or private school in her city or the surrounding area. We’re almost at the end of the school year; it’s May 2nd. I wonder if a transfer is possible, given that the school year is almost over?
What does the law say about this? There’s a loophole in the law; In reality, this lack of regulation is filled with common sense. The law does not prevent Marta’s transfer, but the Headmaster or the Educational Coordinator could resist, since Marta would have to be evaluated in all subjects in less than a month; however, there is no prohibition on transferring.
I’ll give another practical example: last year, the parents of Elena B. (a third-grade student) requested a transfer to our Holden Middle School (Elena was a state school student) in mid-March. The problem with the transfer application being accepted could have arisen from the Invalsi tests, which students must take at the school where the final exam is held. Our Office was able to add Elena B. to the Invalsi portal and simultaneously to the third-grade class. Therefore, for a transfer to the third-grade class, the deadline could be March 20th, in order to complete all the registration procedures for the Invalsi tests.
Let’s continue with the examples. Daniel is a sixth-grade student at a private or state school. His parents decide to transfer him to a non-private, home-based, or preparatory school. It’s early March. What happens?
Parents can hastily withdraw Daniel and simultaneously apply for admission to a state or private school. They must not forget to notify the local state school, specifying that Daniel will continue to be home-schooled. The deadline for withdrawing a middle school student to continue as a private student or home-schooled is March 15th.
Deciding to withdraw by March 15th offers several advantages: not being subject to a final exam, avoiding the risk of failing a year, losing student status at the state school for the current year, and being able to take the admission exams at the same school or another institution. Please note: those who withdraw after March 15th remain under the care of the school and their situation will be treated as an extended absence.
In short, when the law doesn’t fully cover the situation, common sense applies. It’s important to remember that students attending middle school, i.e., lower secondary school, are subject to compulsory education, and the school responsible for fulfilling this obligation remains the lower secondary school in their area of residence. The secretariats and school principals/educational coordinators of state or private schools are always available to provide information. We advise parents to be wary of word of mouth; this, too, is an example of common sense! It’s always best to seek information directly from the source!
The Holden Middle School secretariat and the Educational Coordinator are available to parents who still have questions or who intend to transfer their children while respecting the rules and regulations. Don’t hesitate to call us!
