Applications may be submitted to up to three nonresident school districts.

Yes. Nonresident school districts may deny an application if regular or special education space is not available for the student, if the student has been referred for a special education evaluation but has not yet been evaluated, or if the student has been expelled during the current or preceding two years for certain violent conduct. If there are more applications than spaces, students must be selected randomly, after giving preference to students already attending school in the nonresident school district and siblings of currently-attending students. Some school districts establish waiting lists to fill unused spaces, but others do not.

A resident school district may prevent a student from leaving the district if the tuition charge for the student’s special education in the nonresident school district is an undue financial burden for the resident school district. If you have further questions about open enrollment for children with disabilities, contact the resident or nonresident school district or the DPI.

Parents whose applications are denied may appeal to the DPI within 30 days of the denial. State law requires the DPI to uphold the school district’s decision unless DPI finds that the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable. The DPI’s decision may be appealed to circuit court.

Once a student is accepted into a nonresident school district, the student may continue to attend that district without reapplication except that:

• The nonresident district may require a student to reapply one time—at the beginning of middle school, junior high or high school. Sheboygan Falls does not require anyone to reapply once they have been approved. If your student is currently attending school in Sheboygan Falls under open enrollment, DO NOT SUBMIT ANOTHER APPLICATION.
• Under certain circumstances, a student who needs special education may be required to return to the student’s resident school district.

There is no tuition cost to parents for participation in open enrollment. Parents of open enrolled students may be charged the same fees as resident students.

Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from school. If transportation is required in the individualized education program (IEP) for a child with a disability, it must be provided by the nonresident district. School districts may provide transportation to open enrollment students if they wish. Usually, if transportation is provided, parents must transport the student to a location in the nonresident district. Low-income parents may apply to the DPI for partial reimbursement of their transportation costs.

Open enrolled students have the same rights and responsibilities as resident students. Inter-scholastic athletics are governed by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), which has recently adopted new rules concerning transfer students. Parents should check with the WIAA or the school district’s athletic director about eligibility.