Per Board policy GARE, Employee Assignment, eligible certified personnel may request consideration for reassignment or transfer once a year during the voluntary transfer period. Each school year, the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) leadership team evaluates the feasibility of offering certified staff, Including Teachers, Media Specialists, Counselors, and paraprofessionals, the opportunity to submit a request for voluntary transfer consideration to another school location within Atlanta Public Schools. If the APS leadership offers consideration for a voluntary transfer, the process and timeline are developed and communicated to APS staff each school year by the Human Resources division.

Eligible employees must:

• Hold a current position as a teacher, media specialist, paraprofessional, or counselor (unless approved by HR).
• Have not received a contractual difficulty letter (a letter indicating performance issues or other concerns). 
• Hold a certificate in one of the available content areas. 

Currently, the only classified position eligible to participate in the voluntary transfer process is that of a paraprofessional. School clerk and school secretary positions are not eligible to participate in the voluntary transfer process. Human Resources will continue to review our processes to assess how we can involve more employee groups.

Yes. However, if you have been issued a contractual difficulty letter or are at risk of non-renewal due to performance issues, you are not eligible to participate in the Voluntary Transfer Process.

You may find a list of participating schools on our APS HR webpage. Each school has a list of open positions.

All interested staff members must apply online to their preferred school to be considered. We strongly encourage staff to apply as soon as positions are posted in March each year, as there will be no exceptions. Detailed instructions on how to apply are available on the APS HR webpage.

Positions are posted in March annually.

Unfortunately, given the ratio of interested staff to available positions, we cannot guarantee an interview for all applicants. We encourage you to upload any additional helpful information to the principals as they screen for interview selection. Staff are welcome to update their profile on Frontline Central with a cover letter, evaluations, resume, certificates of achievement, evidence of teacher effectiveness, or certification.

Yes. APS provides orientation and support to staff who are transferred to new schools, helping them adjust to their new environment and responsibilities.

Applying for a transfer does not affect your current position or responsibilities. You will continue in your current role until a transfer is approved and finalized.

No. There is no limit regarding the number of positions for which staff members apply for transfer consideration.

Yes. Staff members may apply for positions commensurate with their certification, even if their current assignment differs from the position they seek.

It is best practice to bring evidence to support verbal statements if selected for an interview. Suggested items include, but are not limited to, a current resume, cover letter, personal statement, teacher portfolio, evidence to support student growth, a smile, and a positive attitude.

Transfer decisions are made based on several factors, including the school’s needs, the applicants' qualifications, and the availability of positions. Principals and HR review applications and make decisions based on them accordingly.

If your voluntary transfer request is denied, you will remain in your current position. You may seek feedback from HR or your principal to understand the reasons and explore other opportunities or improvements for future applications.