Policy-Code-JC
Section J - Students
Policy Title: School Attendance Boundaries
Policy Code: JC
Lead Department: Student Placement and Enrollment
Print Version (in PDF)
The attendance boundary for each school in the District will be established by the Governing Board and is subject to change. All schools in the District shall have an attendance boundary unless the District has specifically designated a school to have no attendance boundary. Each student will be assigned to an attendance boundary school based upon the student's legal residence. Students will attend school in the attendance zone in which their respective residences are located, their neighborhood schools. Exceptions to this policy may be made for open enrollment, state and federal laws, special placements based on Individualized Educational Programs, disciplinary actions, specific curricular programs such as Magnet schools/programs, pipeline schools, and in the case of homeless students, continued attendance in their school of origin.
The Governing Board recognizes that the proposed adoption of attendance boundaries or change in existing attendance boundaries is a topic which will generate much concern and interest by all who may be affected. Therefore, procedures to notify affected parties are delineated in this policy.
The Superintendent shall present recommended boundary changes and/or alternatives for boundary changes to the Governing Board. These recommendations will be made after the Superintendent has:
- evaluated the proposed changes relative to objectives established by the District;
- proposed and evaluated various scenarios in an effort to desegregate schools; and,
- held public meetings to discuss proposed changes and hear public comments regarding such changes.
The Governing Board shall conduct at least one public meeting at which the proposed maps of boundary changes are displayed and public comments heard.
Public Meetings and Public Hearings
Parents and guardians of students and residents of the households to be affected by the proposals being discussed shall be notified in the following manner at least one week prior to any public meeting:
- TUSD website,
- Notices posted at the affected schools, and
- Press release.
These notices shall include a referral to the TUSD website where proposed maps may be reviewed and to another district location where the proposed maps may be viewed.
Following Board action, parents, guardians and residents affected by a boundary change decision will be informed by means of the minutes and other school and District communications as well as bulk mail to all landowners in the affected boundaries. This notice will also be placed on the District's web site.
Within ninety (90) days of the adoption of a boundary change by the Governing Board, attendance boundaries will be updated, made available to the public and placed on a District website. A direct link to the School District's attendance boundaries will be sent to the Department of Real Estate. If the boundary changes adopted by the Governing Board affect any school built on land donated to the District within the past five (5) years, the entity which donated the land will be informed of the Board's decision.
The Superintendent will develop the specific procedures necessary to implement the actions, notification, and documentation required by this policy. The Superintendent's procedures for determining a recommendation to bring forward to the Governing Board shall include a process for public meetings and comments regarding proposed boundary changes.
Adopted: January 29, 2008
Revision: February 11, 2014
Revision: May 31, 2023 (update Lead Dept only)
LEGAL REF.: A.R.S. §15-341A.38; 20 U.S.C. 9532 No Child Left Behind; 42 U.S.C. 11301, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001
CROSS REF: JF – Student Admissions
JFABD – Admission of Homeless Students
JFB – Enrollment and School Choice