The aim of this paper is to review the relevant research on the educational impact of school closures on student learning, provide information on criteria frequently used when closing a school, examine the characteristics of what constitutes a "better school" (i.e., receiving school), and identify strategies that can be used to help students and their parents during the transition to a new school. Closing schools is a politically difficult decision for any district. It has implications for students and families who must be transferred to a new school. It may involve terminating employment contracts with a school's current employees. There may be legal and/or collective bargaining issues to resolve, and it is likely to be a time consuming, challenging, and complicated process (Steiner, 2009). And unless the new options are better than the current school, closing a school for performance reasons is ineffective (Steiner, 2009). (Contains 1 footnote.)