HAGERSTOWN, MD (February 1, 2022) – Special Permission Applications for the 2022-2023 school year will be accepted by Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) through May 1, 2022. Under Board of Education Regulation JC-R, a student may be approved to attend a school outside his or her attendance area if the request meets specific criteria and there is available student capacity at the requested school. It is important to note that if a school is over local-rated enrollment capacity or the requested school has exceptionally large class sizes, it is unlikely that special permission will be approved.

Special Permission Applications for the 2022-2023 school year are now available in schools, from the Department of Student Services, or can be downloaded from the WCPS website. The Special Permission Application, once completed, must be returned to the school to which a family is requesting permission to attend. A letter indicating the special permission decision will be mailed in the month of June.

Adherence to the time frame outlined in the regulation is critical to ensure that schools are appropriately staffed and that class sizes are maintained at reasonable levels. As such, WCPS will strictly adhere to the policy’s established time frame for submission of Special Permission Applications. Applications received after the May 1 deadline must indicate why the application was late and specify how the family’s circumstances have changed after the established time frame. Special Permission Applications are not required for students attending academies and magnet school programs.

As listed on the front of the Special Permission Application, the reasons special permission may be granted include childcare; relocation within Washington County during the school year; student is within year of completion of elementary or middle school, or within two years of high school completion; the need for a specific academic or special program or course, which is not available in the home school attendance area; or, a significant hardship is deemed to exist by the principal or Department of Student Services. When special permission is granted, transportation is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

For more information, call 301-766-2897.