Eligibility

A transfer student is one who discontinues enrollment and attendance in any high school, public or non-public, home school, or online, located in a public school district attendance area and enrolls in any high school in Minnesota, or outside of MN.

Essentially, a transfer occurs anytime the school of record changes. A transfer is considered complete when the student attends class at the Receiving School or participates with an MSHSL athletic program prior to attending school (fall season only), whichever is earlier.

If you transfer to a new high school, you will be eligible for varsity athletic competition if: (always check with the Sending or Receiving School activities administrators)

1. The student is enrolling in 9th grade for the first time.

2. The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. (As defined in Bylaw 111, under definitions).

3. The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order.

4. A student of divorced parents or parents who were never married, who resides with one parent and moves to reside with the other parent shall be eligible at the time of the move.  (The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12).

5. If a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and if the student moves at the same time the parents establish a residence in a Minnesota public school district attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota.

If none of the provisions above are met, the student is ineligible for varsity competition for a period of one calendar year beginning with the first day of attendance at the Receiving School.  The student be eligible to participate in varsity tryouts, practices, scrimmages, jamborees, etc., and sub-varsity competitions. You will not be eligible for varsity competition.

If none of the five provisions set forth above apply and you are determined varsity ineligible, you can request that the MSHSL review the determination of ineligibility.

There are policy exceptions with which you can request a review:

1. Documented internal Board of Education policies regarding the movement of students within the school district.

2. Adoption, abandonment, or death of a parent.

3. A documented substantial negative change in the economic status of the student’s parents which requires the student to withdraw from their current school and enroll in the public school located in the public school district attendance area where the student’s parents reside.

4. School Student Bullying or Harassment—The provisions of MN Statutes 121A.03 and 121A.031 shall be applied.

5. Administrative error in addressing a student's initial eligibility. 

6. Completion of a licensed program for treatment of chemical dependency or diagnosed mental health disorder provided all other eligibility rules are followed. 

7. School Administrators Review—When the six transfer eligibility review exceptions above are not applicable, the Receiving
School principal and activities director and the Sending School principal and activities director together may submit a written
request to the MSHSL that circumstances exist which warrant a review of varsity eligibility by the MSHSL. The school
administrators must identify the circumstances that exist and submit information and documentation to support their request
for review of varsity eligibility. This transfer eligibility review exception is applicable only for students who transfer from one
MSHSL member school to another MSHSL member school.

When you enrolled at your new school [Receiving School] and indicated an interest in participating in athletics, the school compiled information and submitted an electronic student transfer report to the MSHSL.  The transfer report contains general information on your previous school(s) and the reason for your transfer. Based on this information, the Receiving School makes an initial eligibility determination. That determination is sent electronically to the MSHSL for review to ensure compliance with all MSHSL Bylaws, Policies and Rules.

If you are determined varsity ineligible, you can request further review by the MSHSL. Visit with the activities administrator at the Receiving School and request a Transfer Eligibility Review. The athletic director will submit the request and supporting documentation to the League for review.

All denied Transfer Eligibility Review requests for varsity competition eligibility will be reviewed by the MSHSL Board of Directors Eligibility Committee for further review.

Ultimately, the final decisions on eligibility will be made by the MSHSL Board of Directors.

The following are examples of the types of documentation the League relies upon to make decisions regarding transfer eligibility for the transfer eligibility policy exceptions: 

1. Documented internal Board of Education policies regarding the movement of students within the school district.:

• Schools must provide school policies used to support the intradistrict transfer

2. Adoption, abandonment, or death of a parent

• Court ordered adoption decree, death certificate, documentation from state agency regarding abandonment or child protection (CHIPS)

3. A documented substantial negative change in the economic status of the student’s parents which requires the student to
withdraw from their current school and enroll in the public school located in the public school district attendance area where the student’s parents reside:

• Documents to submit include but are not limited to: the past three years Federal Tax Forms 1040 showing the Adjusted Gross
Income, employer notification indicating the recent loss of income or loss of employment, or disability determinations
from a medical professional that indicate a reduction in the ability to be employed.

•  Discretionary spending decisions will generally not be considered.

4. School Student Bullying or Harassment—The provisions of MN Statutes 121A.03 and 121A.031 shall be applied:

• The designated school staff member has investigated the report of prohibited conduct and determined a case of bullying or
harassment pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 121A.03 and 121A.031.

5. Administrative error in addressing a student’s initial eligibility:

• Documentation shall be submitted by the school administrator that explains the error or errors made in the initial eligibility determination process.

6. Completion of a licensed program for treatment of chemical dependency or diagnosed mental health disorder provided
all other eligibility rules are followed:

• Documentation from the director of the treatment program must indicate the student has successfully completed the treatment program.

• The League will take into consideration the treatment program director’s recommendation that a change in schools will best serve the post-treatment needs of the student.

7. School Administrators Review:

• The written request from the administrators at both the Receiving School and the Sending School must include documentation of the circumstances that justify additional review.

• Circumstances NOT justifying additional review include but are not limited to:

1. School choice, family choice, curricular choice or co-curricular offerings at the Receiving School;
2. Sibling preference or attendance;
3. Athletic opportunities offered and/or levels of athletic competition offered at the Receiving School;
4. Transportation reasons. 

The reviews by the eligibility committee meets begin the third week of August and are scheduled every other week thereafter through May, as needed.

Yes, if your review meets the documentation requirements and is moved to the Eligibility Committee.  The eligibility committee will review all of your information/documentation prior to the meeting and you will have an additional 15 minutes to speak and answer any questions they may have.

The eligibility committee may recommend to the entire Board of Directors varsity eligibility, varsity ineligibility, or, in some circumstances, it will be tabled and the committee will ask for additional information.