1997 Wisconsin Act 27 creates the first statewide inter-district
open enrollment program in Wisconsin. The Act creates two programs:
a full-time inter-district open enrollment program and a part-time
inter-district open enrollment program.
School districts, Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESAs)
and the Department of Public Instruction are working to get policies,
forms and procedures in place that will ensure that this new program
can be implemented smoothly and on schedule. Following is a
basic description of the program.
For more information, contact Mary Jo Cleaver (maryjo.cleaver@dpi.wi.gov), Open Enrollment Consultant, Department of Public Instruction, (608) 267-9101, or toll free at 1-888-245-2732, at the prompts press 2, then 3.
FULL-TIME INTER-DISTRICT OPEN ENROLLMENT
Beginning in the 1998-99 school year, students in grades kindergarten
to 12 may attend any public school in the state, if space is available.
Students may attend prekindergarten or early childhood programs
only if the student's resident school district also provides such
a program and if the student is eligible for the program.
Between February 6 and February 24, 2006, parents must
submit their applications to the school districts they wish their
children to attend in the 2006-2007 school year. Parents may request
enrollment in a specific school or program (although acceptance
into the specific school or program is not guaranteed). Low-income
parents who wish to apply for reimbursement of transportation
costs must apply for this assistance at this time.
Acceptance/Rejection:
On or before April 7, 2006, both the non-resident school district
to which the parent has applied and the resident school district
must notify the parent if the application has been accepted or
rejected. By May 12, 2006, the non-resident school district
must notify the accepted applicant of the school or program the
student will be assigned to. Also by May 12, the DPI must provide
to low-income parents an estimate of the amount of transportation
reimbursement they will receive. By June 9, 2006, the pupil's parent must notify the nonresident school board of the pupil's intent to attend school in that school district in the following school year.
A non-resident school district may reject an application only
for the following reasons, as specified in the school board policies:
- If space is not available in the school, program, class or
grade that the student would attend. If there are more applications
than are spaces, the school district must accept or reject applications
on a random basis, except that the school board must give preference
to students who are already attending school in the non-resident
district, and their siblings.
- If the student has been expelled during the current or two
preceding school years (or whether disciplinary proceedings are
pending) for certain violent offenses.
- If the student has not yet been screened for possible exceptional
educational needs or if the student has been referred for a multi-disciplinary
team (M-team) evaluation but has not yet been evaluated.
- For districts participating in the chapter 220 integration
transfer program, if accepting the student would increase racial
imbalance in the school district.
A resident school district may reject a student's application
to attend a non-resident district only for the following reasons,
as specified in the school board policies:
- If a student's special education program, required by the
individualized education program and as proposed to be carried
by the non-resident district, would impose an undue financial
burden on the school district.
- For districts participating in the chapter 220 integration
transfer program, if allowing the student to transfer out of the
district would increase racial imbalance in the school district.
If an application is rejected by either the resident or non-resident
district, the parent may appeal the rejection to the state superintendent
of public instruction within 30 days. The state superintendent
is required to uphold the school board's decision unless that
decision is found to be arbitrary or unreasonable.
Continuing Enrollment:
Once a student is accepted into a non-resident school district
the student may continue to attend the non-resident school district
in subsequent years, with three exceptions:
- The non-resident school district may require students to reapply,
one time only, at the beginning of middle school, junior high
school or high school.
- If a child with an exceptional educational need has a newly-created
or revised individualized education program that requires a special
education program or service that is not available in the non-resident
district or for which no space is available, the student may be
required to return to the resident district.
- If a child with an exceptional educational need has a newly-created
or revised individualized education program that requires a special
education program or service the cost of which imposes an undue
financial burden on the resident school district, the student
may be required to return to the resident district.
The student may re-enroll in her or his resident district at any
time upon notifying both school districts.
Responsibilities for Children with Exceptional Educational
Needs:
The resident school district is responsible for screening children
to determine if they may have an exceptional educational need
(EEN). The non-resident school district is responsible for the
multi-disciplinary team (M-team) and development of the individualized
education program (IEP) in collaboration with appropriate personnel
designated by the resident school district. The non-resident
district is responsible for providing an educational placement
for the child. The resident school board is, generally, responsible
for ensuring that procedural safeguards are provided.
Rights and Responsibilities of Students:
A student attending a non-resident school district has all the
rights and privileges of resident students and is subject to the
same rules and regulations as resident students. (For inter-scholastic
athletics, this means that Wisconsin Inter-Scholastic Athletic
Association rules apply.)
Tuition and Revenue Limits:
For regular education students, a uniform "student transfer
cost" is determined by the DPI. A school district's state
aid is increased or reduced by the net transfers times the student
transfer cost. For the 2005-2006 school year, this amount is estimated to be
$5,745. (Example: If a district had 3 students transfer in
and 2 students transfer out, the district's state aid would be
increased by $5,745. A district that had 2 students transfer
in and 3 students transfer out would have its state aid decreased
by $5,745).
For special education students, the resident school district must
pay the cost of the special education program and related services
to the non-resident school district.
Neither the aid adjustment nor the special education tuition is
included in calculating a school district's revenue limits.
That is, a school district that receives an increase in aid or
a payment from another district is not required to reduce its
levy; a school district that experiences a decrease in aid or
makes a payment to another district may not increase its levy.
Transportation:
The parent is responsible for transporting the student to and
from school in the non-resident school district. (If the IEP
for a child with EEN requires special transportation, the non-resident
district must provide the special transportation.)
Parents whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price
meals under the federal school lunch program may apply to the
DPI for reimbursement of transportation costs.
Either a non-resident or resident school district may provide
transportation in any manner currently permitted in the statutes,
but a non-resident school district may not pick up or drop off
students within the boundaries of the student's resident district.
The non-resident school district may receive state categorical
aid if it provides transportation.
School Board Policies:
By the end of December, 1997, school boards must have adopted policies
relating to acceptance and rejection criteria, re-application
requirements, resident transfer limitations, racial balance (for
chapter 220 school districts) and transportation.
PART-TIME INTER-DISTRICT OPEN ENROLLMENT
Beginning in the 1998-99 school year, a high school student may
take up to two courses at a time in a non-resident school district.
Application:
The student must apply no later than 6 weeks prior to the scheduled
start of the course.
Acceptance/Rejection:
No later than one week before the start of the course, the non-resident
district must notify the student if the application is accepted
or rejected and the resident district must notify the student
if the application is denied or if the course does not meet the
high school graduation requirements in the resident school district.
Prior to the start of the course, the parent must notify both
school districts if the student will attend.
A non-resident school district may reject an application only
for the following reasons, as specified in the school board policies:
- If space is not available in the course. If there are more
applications than there are spaces, the school board must accept
and reject applications on a random basis.
- Policies and criteria for entry into the course must be the
same as those that apply to resident students, except that preference
may be given to resident students.
A resident school district may reject a student's application
to take a course in a non-resident district only for the following
reasons, as specified in the school board policies:
- If the course conflicts with the individualized education
program for a student with exceptional educational needs.
- If the cost of the course would impose an undue financial
burden on the resident school district.
If an application is rejected by either the resident or non-resident
district, the parent may appeal the rejection to the state superintendent
of public instruction within 30 days. The state superintendent
must uphold the school board's decision unless that decision is
found to be arbitrary or unreasonable. The decision of the state
superintendent is final and is not subject to judicial review.
Tuition:
The resident school district must pay the cost of the course,
calculated in a manner determined by the DPI, to the non-resident
school district.
Transportation:
The parent is responsible for transporting the student to and
from school in the non-resident school district.
Parents whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price
meals under the federal school lunch program may apply to the
DPI for reimbursement of transportation costs.
Either a non-resident or resident school district may provide
transportation in any manner currently permitted in the statutes,
but a non-resident school district may not pick up or drop off
students within the boundaries of the student's resident district.
Miscellaneous:
A school board must permit a student who moves out of the district
during a school year to complete the school year at the school
the student was attending, even though the pupil is no longer
a resident. If the student wishes to attend the school district
in the following year, the student must apply under the open enrollment
procedures.
For questions about this information, contact Mary J. Cleaver (608) 267-9101
Last updated on 2/26/2008 4:43:18 PM
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