School Waiver Requests: What Reasons Qualify? Download a Free Template!

By default, your child is assigned to a school based on your geographic location, known as “school districting“. However, for various personal or logistical reasons, it’s possible to request an exemption to enroll your child in a school outside your assigned area. How do you apply for a school exemption? When should the request be made? What are the valid reasons for approval? We’ll walk you through the process…

What is School Districting?

Established in 1963, school districting is a system that places students in a school based on their residential address. If you want your child to attend a different school, you must apply for an exemption, which will be granted if your reasons are deemed valid and if there is space available at the desired school. Typically, exemption requests should be submitted between March and April for elementary and middle school students. For high school students, the timing can vary depending on the grade and is usually specified on the school’s website.

What Are the Reasons for a School Districting Exemption?

There are several reasons you might request an exemption for your child. These include:

• to keep siblings together or simplify childcare arrangements: for instance, the default school might be far from your workplace, too distant from the caregiver’s home (grandparent, nanny, family friend), or poorly served by public transportation.
• The reason for the exemption request might be medical (for example, if the student needs significant medical care near the requested school, has a recognized disability, or needs a special education program…)
• It could also relate to school programs, available courses (uncommon foreign languages, film studies, theater…), or the school’s performance rates.
• Note that if the requested school is at capacity, some students are given priority: students with disabilities and nearby medical support, scholarship holders, siblings already enrolled in the school, students living near the school boundary, and those enrolled in special education programs.

Whatever the reason for the request, it must be clearly stated in the letter along with the necessary documentation (medical certificates, employer’s statement, proof of residence…). After review, the exemption may be granted if the reason is considered valid and if the school’s capacity allows. Note that students from the local area are naturally prioritized, and you can only make one exemption request per child. Also, there’s no need to apply for an exemption if you wish to enroll your child in a private school.

How to Apply for an Exemption?

Download a School Districting Exemption Form

For some schools, you’ll need to download a form directly from the city hall’s website of the school in question. You’ll need to specify the child’s grade, your personal information, household composition, the school requested, the reasons for the request, and include a justification with the form. After receiving the form, the request (only complete applications are reviewed) is examined – usually in May during the exemption commission – by school principals, the elected official responsible for Education, the school service, and parent representatives who will give a favorable or unfavorable opinion by the end of June. And “once you are notified of the decision regarding your child’s placement, you must register them at the middle or high school to which they have been assigned by the district education officer“, states the national education website. If the exemption request is approved, remember to notify the school your child was originally supposed to attend.

Write a School Districting Exemption Letter

If desired, you can also send an exemption request to the Departmental Directorate of National Education (DSDEN). This involves writing a letter addressed to Mr. or Mrs. the Mayor (for elementary schools) or to the Academy Inspector (for middle and high schools). You should include your personal information (name, first name, address) as well as those of the child, the reasons for requesting an exemption from the school districting, and the requested school. Note: all exemption requests (form or letter) must be sent by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt.

Exemption Request: Our Sample Letter Template

Print the template

Exemption Request for Elementary School

The exemption request for an elementary school (form or letter) must be submitted to the mayor of the city. Check with your city hall for the submission guidelines. When to send your exemption request? Typically, it’s between March and April that kindergarten enrollment takes place. That’s when you can make the arrangements to request an exemption. For elementary schools, check the exemption request calendar at the requested school: note that the forms are generally available starting in February. Don’t delay in downloading them and aim to send them back as soon as possible, ideally before May. But don’t worry: “before the end of the second trimester, the schedule of procedures will be communicated to you“, states the national education website.

Exemption Request for Middle School

The exemption request for a middle school (form or letter) must be sent to the Principal of the middle school. When to send your exemption request? You can send your exemption request towards the end of the second trimester (March/April). To ensure you don’t miss the deadline, consult the exemption calendar of the requested school (on its website or by contacting them directly by phone).

Exemption Request for High School

• Internally. If the requested school is in the same district as the child’s original school, the exemption request should be addressed to the head of the requested school. Note: if the reason involves requesting a special program (such as rare foreign languages, ancient languages and cultures, and sports sections), the exemption should be sent to the DSDEN (the Departmental Directorate of National Education of your district).
• Externally. If the requested school is outside your home district, the exemption must be sent to the DSDEN. (See the rules for high school exemptions)

When to Send Your School Exemption Request?

The timing of your school exemption request depends on your child’s age.

• If your child is in kindergarten, you must send your exemption request to the mayor of your town between March and April.
• If they are in elementary school, contact the desired school, which has its own exemption request calendar. You can send your exemption request to the principal of the desired middle school for your child between March and April.
• Be aware that middle schools generally publish their procedural calendars on their websites.
• If your child is in high school, send your request to the director of the high school if it is within your district. The timing depends on your child’s grade but can be checked on the school’s website. If the desired school is located outside your district, address it to the DSDEN.

What to Do if Your Request Is Denied?

You can challenge the decision of the district education director through an administrative appeal: either “gracious” directly to the author of the decision or “hierarchical” by sending a letter to the rector of the academy requesting the withdrawal of the refusal, a re-examination of the request, and access to the request, clearly argued. Parents can also challenge the decision through a judicial appeal before the Administrative Court. Note that any appeal must be made within two months from the receipt of the refusal.