Students in Montgomery County, Maryland are expected to attend the school within the established attendance area in which they reside (home school) or assigned in accordance with their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students may apply for a Change of School Assignment (COSA) based on specific information, detailed on the MCPS Student Transfers webpage.
See MCPS Regulation JEE-RA, Student Transfers and Administrative Placements, Board Policy JEE, Student Transfers, and the Change of School Assignment (COSA) Information Booklet.
MCPS Form 225-45, Request for a Change of School Assignment (COSA), may be completed by a parent/guardian and submitted to the student’s current school of assignment. Upon verification of residency, the student’s current school of assignment will forward the COSA request to the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services (DPPAS) for review.
For more information, contact the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services (DPPAS) at 240-740-5620
Parents/guardians may apply for a COSA between the first school day in February and the first school day in April. Responses are typically provided by May. Granted COSA requests become active the following school year.
COSA applications are processed by the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services (DPPAS). For questions regarding the status of your submitted COSA request, contact DPPAS at 240-740-5620.*
If your COSA request was denied and you want to know why it was denied,contact DPPAS at 240-740-5620.
If your COSA request was denied and you want to appeal, send your request to divisionofappeals@mcpsmd.org within 15 days of your notification of denial. If you have already submitted an appeal to the Division of Appeals, contact the Division of Appeals regarding your appeal status at 240-740-4130.
All questions regarding MCPS consortia school assignments should be directed to the Division of Consortia Choice and Application Programs Services (DCCAPS) at 240-740-2540 or via email at DCCAPS@mcpsmd.org
COSA applications are processed by the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services (DPPAS). For questions regarding your COSA denial, contact DPPAS at 240-740-5620.
According to the MCPS Board Policy JEE, Student Transfer, a COSA may be approved for a unique hardship, defined as extenuating circumstances related to a student’s specific physical, mental, or emotional well-being or their family’s individual or personal situation that could be mitigated by a change of school environment. However, problems that are common to large numbers of families do not constitute a unique hardship, absent other compelling factors.
Yes, approved COSAs may be rescinded by a school’s principal with proper cause.
Per MCPS Regulation JEE-RA, Student Transfers and Administrative Placements, Board Policy JEE, Student Transfers, and the Change of School Assignment (COSA) Information Booklet, a principal may request DPPAS rescind a student’s COSA with proper cause. An example may be disciplinary infractions and attendance issues.
For more information, contact the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services (DPPAS) at 240-740-5620
To appeal either a COSA denial from the Division of Pupil Personnel and Attendance Services or COSA rescission from the school’s principal, forward the letter of denial/rescission and a letter of appeal to the DivisionofAppeals@mcpsmd.org. Be sure to include:
You must submit your appeal via email to the DivisionofAppeals@mcpsmd.org within 15 days of your notification of denial or COSA rescission. .
During the appeal process of a COSA denial, the student must enroll in and attend the home school while the appeal of a COSA denial is in process.
During the appeal process for a COSA rescission, the student may remain enrolled in the assigned school (i.e., the school to which the student had received a COSA) during the appeal.
If the superintendent of schools/designee upholds the rescission, the student returns to their home school. The student remains in their home school if the parent/guardian chooses to appeal to the Board of Education.