February 13, 2006	Volume 5, Number 4

Public school open enrollment applications due

Parents who wish to choose the public school district their children will attend next year have an important set of dates approaching: the Feb. 6 to 24 open enrollment application window.

“The open enrollment program is one of many options our state offers parents to be involved in decisions affecting their children,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster in announcing the annual three-week application period.

The February application period commences the ninth year in which Wisconsin law has permitted children to attend public school in a school district other than the one in which they live. Participation in the program continues to grow, with 18,210 students transferring to another school district during the 2004-05 school year, up from just 2,464 transfers the first year of the program.

Under the full-time public school open enrollment program, parents must apply during the application period to the school district they wish their children to attend. Early and late applications are not accepted. Parents will be informed by April 7 whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied.

In most circumstances, transportation is the responsibility of the parent. However, some school districts may elect to provide partial transportation. Parents with questions about transportation should call both the resident and nonresident school district offices to find out if any transportation will be provided. Reimbursement of some transportation costs is available for low-income parents whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the federal school lunch program.

Parents may submit applications to no more than three nonresident school districts for each child during the open enrollment application period. Submitting more than three applications to nonresident school districts will result in all applications being invalidated.

Forms must be filled out completely and accurately. Contact the local school district office or the DPI if assistance is needed in filling out the form. An inaccurate or incomplete form may result in denial of an application.

Parents may request enrollment in a specific school or program in the nonresident school district; however, enrollment in the requested school or program is subject to space and other limitations and is not guaranteed.

Most students who attended a nonresident school district under open enrollment last year are not required to reapply for the 2006-07 school year. However, if the student will be entering middle school, junior high school, or high school in the 2006-07 school year, parents should call the nonresident school district to find out if reapplication will be required.

Parents may apply for their children to attend 4-year-old kindergarten under open enrollment only if the resident school district also offers a 4-year-old kindergarten program for which the child is eligible.

Application forms may be obtained from any public school district, from the Department of Public Instruction, or from the DPI’s open enrollment website at http://dpi.wi.gov/sms/psctoc.html. More information is available from local school districts or from Mary Jo Cleaver, DPI, 888-245-2732 (toll-free), or maryjo.cleaver@dpi.state.wi.us.

Last updated on 2/13/2006