Student Withdrawal
District 97 requires written notice from the legal parent/guardian when a child is leaving one of its schools. This includes students transferring to another public or private school, students moving out of Oak Park or the United States, and students changing to homeschooling. This notice is required even if the change is temporary.
Withdrawal Process
If you are seeking to withdraw your child from District 97, we ask that you complete the following steps as soon as possible, as this process can take up to 10 business days, particularly during the spring and summer months:
- Gather the next school’s name, complete address, phone number, and fax number. This will speed up our ability to exit your student(s) as well as transfer records.
- Complete the Google Form found here. A separate form is needed for each student who is leaving. Please note that the information requested in the form is required by the State of Illinois.
- Download the Records Request form. Email the completed and signed form to [email protected]. You can email a scanned copy or a clear photo of the completed form. Please enter “Records Request” in the subject line of your email.
- If your student has an IEP, you must also complete and sign the special education records request and email it to [email protected]. Please enter ”Records Request” in the subject line of your email.
- Contact the school office and make an appointment to request/receive:
- A current report card
- An Illinois State Transfer form (This is required by the next school)
- Lunch balance refund
- Return all technology including hotspots, ChromeBooks, iPads, other devices, chargers, etc.
- Return all textbooks and other school material or borrowed supplies
- Return all library books
FAQs
A: The State of Illinois requires public school districts to report when a student leaves the district as well as the reason for leaving.
A: The State of Illinois requires districts to send school records to the next school.
A: Only the student’s parent or legal guardian or next school can request student records; therefore the district must maintain a log of who requested records, when the request was made, and the purpose of the request.
A: In District 97, student report cards collectively function as the student’s transcript. Transcripts are required by the next school.
A: The State of Illinois requires all incoming students to have a valid Illinois State Transfer form from their prior public school before enrolling a new student. This form confirms that the student left their prior district in good standing.
A: All technology is lent to the student but ownership of these items continues to belong to District 97. The district will pursue all available options to recover technology.