I will let you all know shortly how it goes in Downey.
I spoke to a Pasadena board member yesterday that said the only real reason they are accepting is if your current district provides something that Pasadena does not.
Looks like my daughter is taking up horses!! =)
PUSD doesn't offer any type of Equestrian classes.

I am in the same situation as a lot of you. PUSD denied my inter distrcit release. i have stated the following reasons:
1. financial
2. my daughter is already attending Temple City HS and has been recommened to return for the 2009-2010 school year
3. my in laws live in TC and i rely on them for chid support services such as picking up my daughter from school

i am in the second stage of appeal. i have to wait 10 working days. if it is denied i will appeal at the third stage and move out of pasadena.
i think its very sad how the education realm works. my daughter well being educationally and socially is not a factor in there decision. if it was the permit would be approved.
please give me any pointers. this is truly stressing me out and i feel sick!!

My update: We got our final denial from PUSD. Our next step is the review panel of LACOE.
Has anybody been given their 5 minutes in front of the board yet? How did it go?

pusd parents trying for transfers - we are going to the LA County appeal process - here are list of reasons we stated -
1. logistical hardship
2. financial hardship
3. parent involvement with childs education
Here are the areas we have not included-
1. Gangs/crime
2. Reverse discrimination (white kid)

What will work? Probably absolutely nothing.
I had written a email letter to Pasadena Star News about the "process" I have gone through with PUSD to obtain correct info to make informed decisions and the PUSD's complete incompetence. Unfortunately no one wants to hear about how we know about government incompetence nor how PUSD only cares about their pocketbook and not my child.

I read the legal documents and they are so intentionally vague and ambigious that I feel they have no set proven or written criteria that they use to make decisions except for their ability to intentionally create havoc in a parents life to collect state funds.

Hi Leeara: Sorry I didn't respond sooner, been trying to take a break from this stressful situation. I'm in the process of writing to the Board (2nd appeal level) to see if they agree with me. How are things for you? If you'd like, you can write to me directly at: belias8@sbcglobal.net . Thanks.

My husband and I are sick over this also. We are waiting for the paperwork to come back from our written request. I will move before my daughter goes to Pasadena.
My husband has asked his employer to get involved and write a letter on our behalf, he is employed in La Canada so they are going to do that.
I will keep you posted.

Hi Leeara: Most of the outcomes are not in favor of the parents. We've used child care and their response is "PUSD offers child care." We've also pointed out education issues, vandalism, etc., to no avail. We're going to appeal, but it seems to me we are just going to the loops to just meet our pre-determined faith. I'm so stressed out about this whole thing I'm feeling ill. When is your hearing? I still have to gather and fill out the forms to appear before the County.

Hi Proudmom8,
I am currently waiting for the response of my second level appeal but it doesn't look good. I have been talking to another parent here who has been denied at level 2 and is making his appointment to appear before La county. We have used childcare, parental employment and education standards as reasons and have all be denied. At level 3 you get 5 minutes to plead your case in front of the panel and then the district gets 5 minutes. I will keep you posted.
If anybody has already been through this I would love to know what Pasadena's angle is. They can't deny us all.

To leera: I'm also trying to get my kids out of the Pasadena Unified School District and my appeal has been denied (1st level). However, the District is denying all the inter-district requests without assessing them just because they don't want to lose students, thus forcing parents to appear before the Board for a hearing on the issue. I would be interested in knowing your outcome and any pointers you may want to share. I feel very discouraged in our school system. Parents should have the right to make decisions concerning their kids, not strangers serving their own interest and just looking to keep money on their pockets.

Wow!! I didn't realize that you need a release from one district in order to enroll in another. That is another battle all together.

My district is Inglewood USD. My son currently goes to Bennett-Kew which is a good elementary school, but when it comes to Middle Schools that is a different story. I want my son to attend middle school in Torrance or Manhattan. Do you have any recommendations?

I was reading your questions and anwsers and needed similar advice. I live in Pasadena Unified School District, my husband works in the La Canada Unified School District so we enrolled my daugter in Kindergarten there of course. (blue ribbon education compared to a 3 out of 10) We were approved for her intradistrict permit last year but Pasadena denied the release this year. I filed an appeal and was again denied so I just submitted my written request for a second level appeal. I am ready to fight the big fight but I need legal terms or great advice on how to make Pasadena release her.

You can also ask your school's personnel how a transfer can be done. Both Manhattan Beach and Torrance are their own school districts. If you live in Torrance, you may need an intradistrict transfer; it you live in Torrance, but want your child to attend school in Manhattan Beach, you'd need to obtain an interdistrict transfer.

Finally, you can call the district office for each district and ask how transfers work.

Good luck!

I would like him to attend a school in the Torrance or Manhattan School District and I don't live in those areas but close by. I also don't work close to there.

THanks,

Veronica

Hi vbperez:

It's good that you're thinking about this early on. Do you have an idea of which school you'd like your son to attend?

There are a few ways to attend another school, but it depends on the district you're looking at. In LAUSD, there are interdistrict transfers and intradistrict transfers. If you work and would like your child to attend a school near your employment, that is one way of going about a transfer, as well. Also, if you move into that schools attendance area, your son would be entitled to go to that school.

If you can give a bit more information, we may be able to provide a more helpful response.