From:	DPI Open Enrollment
Sent:	Monday, August 2, 2021 1:20 PM
To:	Demrow, Jennifer   DPI
Subject:	OE SPED Actual Costs

To – District Administrators and Open Enrollment Coordinators

From – Jen Demrow, Open Enrollment Consultant

Subject – OE SPED Actual Costs 

For pupils who are open enrolled for the second or subsequent year, the open enrollment 
payment for a student receiving special education services could be either the per pupil 
payment amount under the indexing method or the special education actual costs to the 
nonresident district, up to $30,000, if the nonresident school district had submitted to the 
Department a financial statement indicating the special education actual cost to the school 
district of providing a free and appropriate education (FAPE) to the pupil in the previous school 
year. 

If a nonresident district chooses to use the Special Education (SPED) Actual Cost amount, they 
are required to submit a financial statement (the Open Enrollment Financial Statement for 
Special Education Costs) in OPAL. The financial statement must be completed in order for the 
nonresident district to receive the OE SPED Actual Cost aid amount.

Below are links to a Q&A document, a sample of an Open Enrollment Financial Statement, and 
instructions on how to enter a pupil’s SPED Actual Costs information into OPAL in order to 
create a financial statement. 

The financial statement is now available for nonresident school districts to complete via OPAL 
(the open enrollment database). 
 
Q&A Document – Open Enrollment Actual Costs for Pupils with Disabilities: 
https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/open-enrollment/pdf/qa-oe-actual-costs-pupils-
with-disabilities-feb-20.pdf 

Sample – Open Enrollment Financial Statement for Special Education Costs: 
https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/open-enrollment/pdf/sample-oe-financial-
statement-sped-actual-costs.pdf 

Instructions for Entering a Pupil’s Special Education Actual Costs Information in OPAL: 
https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/open-enrollment/pdf/sped-actual-cost-entries-into-
opal.pdf 

Below is the timeline for nonresident districts to enter, edit, or withdraw a pupil’s financial 
statement: 

*	August 2, 2021		SPED Actual Cost Financial Statement available in OPAL
*	September 30, 2021	Deadline for Nonresident Districts to Enter, Edit, or 
Withdraw a SPED Actual Cost Financial Statement
*	October 11, 2021		Deadline for DPI to Withdraw a SPED Actual Cost Financial 
Statement on behalf of a Nonresident District

If you have any questions, please contact us at 888-245-2732, option 2 or 
openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov. 

Jen Demrow
School Administration Consultant
Public School Open Enrollment
Department of Public Instruction
608-264-6707
Jennifer.Demrow@dpi.wi.gov 

DISCLAIMER: The content of this email is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of 
providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain legal advice, including compliance 
with state and federal laws and regulations.