Engage. Challenge. Inspire.

The mission of the Student Services Department is to ensure that specialized materials and services are available to both students and teachers, for supporting the school system's mission of engaging, challenging and inspiring our students.

Out-of-Zone Transfer Students

The Bristol Tennessee City Schools has an open transfer policy (6.206) which allows parents of elementary students who reside within the Bristol Tennessee City limits the option to request for their child to attend another elementary school within the Bristol Tennessee City School system other than the school in which they are zoned to attend. Consideration of transfer requests are based on established student-teacher ratios and the following priorities:

• 1st Priority - Students residing in the requested school zone and students who are legal placements by virtue of Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-3113.

• 2nd Priority - Students residing within the city limits who file appropriate forms requesting transfers, with consideration given to those with siblings in the system.

Out-of-Zone Transfer Requests are available in the Student Services office located in the Administration Building, 615 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For additional information, please call the Student Services office at 423-652-9233 or refer to BTCS Policy 6.206 School Attendance and Transfers.

Out-of-District Tuition Students

Bristol Tennessee City Schools welcomes students who reside outside of the city limits as long as established student-teacher ratios permit. Space availability for tuition students are determined by the following priorities:

• 1st Priority - Students residing in the school district or who are legal placements by virtue of Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-3113.

• 2nd Priority - Students who reside within the city limits who file appropriate forms requesting transfers, with consideration given to those with siblings in the system.

• 3rd Priority - Tuition students, those residing outside the city limits, with consideration given to those with established tuition siblings in the system.

Tuition applications are available in the Student Services office located in the Administration Building, 615 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For additional information, please call the Student Services office at 423-652-9233 or refer to BTCS policy 6.204 Attendance of Non-Resident Students.

Tuition for the 2018-2019 school year must be paid by Monday, July 23, 2018. Tuition may be paid either in the full amount for the entire year or in two payments. If two payments are made, the first half of the tuition amount must be paid by Monday, July 23, 2018. The second half of the tuition amount must be paid by December 3, 2018.

Tuition payments can be made either by check or cash at the BTCS Administration Business office located at 615 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. If paying in cash, the exact cash amount is required because the business office does not keep cash on site for change. Tuition may also be paid online at the Bristol Tennessee City Schools webpage (btcs.org) through PayPal. To access the PayPal link go to Departments on the home page and click on Student Services, "Pay Tuition". There is a $12.50 per semester or $25.00 per year processing fee added by PayPal to each transaction for students residing within the State of Tennessee. There is a $125.00 per semester or $250.00 processing fee added by PayPal to each transaction for students residing outside of the State of Tennessee.

Homebound Instruction

The Student Services Department coordinates the provision of homebound instruction to students who have short-term medical needs that prohibit them from attending school. Enrollment for homebound instruction is coordinated through the child's physician. For more information, call the Student Services Office at 423-652-9233.

Home School

In Tennessee, parents have the option to educate their children at home, an option known as home schooling or home education. Parents in Tennessee may choose to home school their own children in grades K-12. The Tennessee Home School law (Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-3050) states: "A home school is a school conducted or directed by a parent or parents or a legal guardian or guardians for their own children." Parents desiring to home school their own children may do so by choosing one of the following three options.

• Independent Home School Students

Parents may home school their own children pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-3050 by registering with their local school district no later than August 1, of each year. Parents choosing this educational option are required to complete an Intent to Home School form and provide evidence of a high school diploma or GED. Student attendance (at least 4 hours per day, 180 days per year) must be reported to to the local school district at the end of the school year. Testing of independent home school students is required in grades 5, 7, and 9 and is coordinated through the local school district. Independent Home School students enrolled under the State department of education guidelines and BTCS School Board Policy 8.103 are eligible to try-out for athletic programs sponsored by the local school district. Please refer to BTCS School Board Policy 8.129 Requirements of Athletic Participants.

• Category IV - Church Related Umbrella Schools

By authority of the same statute, parents may also home school their own children by registering with a church related "umbrella" school as defined by by TCA 49-50-801. Parents who choose this option will be required to provide evidence to the local school district that their child is enrolled in a church-related school. An Intent to Home School form is not required for students who are enrolled in a church-related school. The church-related school will determine record keeping and test requirements for students enrolled in an umbrella school. Home school students who are registered with a category IV church-related umbrella school are not eligible to try-out for athletic programs sponsored by the local school district.

• Accredited Online School

Parents may also enroll their child in an accredited online school. Parents choosing this educational option must be sure to determine that the school has legitimate accreditation status and will be required to provide evidence to the local school district that their child is enrolled in an accredited online school. Please refer to the the home school website for a list of the accrediting agencies. Home school students who are registered with an accredited online school are not eligible to try out for athletic programs sponsored by the local school district.

For more information on Home Schooling in Tennessee, please refer to the Tennessee Department of Education Home School Website: https://www.tn.gov/education/school-options/home-schooling-in-tn.html

Private Schools

The Student Services Department works with the private schools that are located within the Bristol Tennessee City School district to coordinate a variety of services that are available to students attending those schools. Please call the student services office at 423-652-9233 for questions pertaining to private school services.

School Nurses

The school nursing services are comprised of a system-wide Registered Nurse and one Licensed Practical Nurse per school. The RN is licensed in the state of Tennessee and accepts responsibility for planning, intervention, evaluation, management, and referral activities. RN's also serves as the direct link between physicians, families, and community agencies. This assures the students and staff access and continuity of health care services.

The LPNs are registered in the state of Tennessee. The LPNs, working under the RN's supervision, are responsible for any medical procedures to be performed during the day for the students and/or staff. Procedures may include medication administration, categorizations, trachea suctioning, parent contact, physician contact, and health screenings. All the clinics follow a standard of guidelines outlined in each student handbook and in accordance with the Policy and Procedure Manual of Bristol Tennessee City Schools.