SAMPLE WITHDRAWAL LETTERS
If you're withdrawing your child from school, it's essential to provide written notification. Below are two sample letters—one from a parent to the old school and another from the new school requesting student records.
Sample Withdrawal Letter (Parent to Old School)
You should notify the old school by email that you are withdrawing your child and indicate the exact date of your child's last attendance. Keep a sent copy and any replies for your records. The school may ask you to fill out a withdrawal form, and you should keep a copy of that form, as well.
This written notification to the school is from you as the parent, not from your newly established school, so it should NOT be sent on school letterhead, and you should not sign as "administrator."
Send this email to the office staff, not the principal.
If planning to file a Private School Affidavit, decide upon a school name first to include in the email, and file the PSA after you've sent it. See instructions for picking a name in our PSA filing party video at hsc.org/quickguide
Example Parent Withdrawal Letter:
[old school's name] [old school's address]
RE: Withdrawal of [child's name] from [old school's name]
To Whom It May Concern (or office staff member's name if you know it):
This letter is to inform you that [child's name], birthdate [child's birthdate], student ID number [child's school ID number if known], has been withdrawn from [old school's name] as of [last date of attendance] and is transferring to [new school's name].
[New school's name] will contact you directly for [child's name]'s cumulative file. Pursuant to California Education §49068, please provide [new school's name] with attendance records, transcripts for all grades attended, report cards and reports of classes currently in progress, disciplinary information and records, standardized testing participation and results, health records, and any other school records regarding [child's name].
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely, [your name]
[If you know the school registrar's name, you can cc that person, too.]
Enrollment Confirmation & Request for Records (From New to Old School)
If you mail this by certified mail or hand-deliver it, note the date and the person to whom it was delivered on your own copy; however, an email is perfectly ok as it creates a record. Be sure to get a response to confirm receipt.
This written notification to the school is from you as the administrator of your newly established school, so it should be sent on school letterhead (add a header in your email or create a document as explained below), and you should sign as "administrator".
Create letterhead for your new school in a document using a large font, and include your new school name, address, and email address.
If you do not receive your student records in a timely manner, try again and be sure to receive a response explaining the delay. Some schools resist sending original files to parents who are home educating, and if this is the case, let them know that copies are fine. You may also, under FERPA, request the records as the parent rather than the administrator of your school if you think that will muster a faster response.
Example Records Request Letter:
[old school's name] [old school's address]
RE: Withdrawal of [child's name] from [old school's name]
To Whom It May Concern (or the name of the person you know deals with records):
This letter is to inform you that [child's name], birthdate [child's birthdate], student ID number [child's school ID number if known], has been enrolled at [your new private school name] as of [date of enrollment in new school].
Please send this student's cumulative file to this school at the above-noted address, pursuant to California Education Code section 49068. Please include attendance records, transcripts for all grades attended, report cards and progress reports, disciplinary information and records, standardized testing participation and results, Individual Education Plan (IEP) if any, health records, psychological evaluations, speech and/or language evaluations, any other special education evaluations, and any other school records regarding the above-named student.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
[your name as new school administrator- be sure to sign it] Administrator
[If you know the school registrar's name, you can cc that person, too.]
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