Open Enrollment 101
Here are the basics on open enrollment in the state of Wisconsin. For more information, visit the state Department of Public Instruction's Web site at www.dpi.state.wi.us
What is open enrollment and why would I want to apply for it?
Open enrollment allows students to attend a school in a different school district than the one they reside in. Some students may wish to attend a neighboring district because of personal preference. Students from outside Monroe school district boundaries wishing to enroll in Monroe's Virtual School or charter must apply through the open enrollment process.
Where do I apply for open enrollment - to my home district or the district I want my child to attend? And when should I do it?
Parents should apply to the nonresident district (the school district they want their child to attend.) The open enrollment period runs from Feb. 4 to Feb. 22. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. Feb. 22.
What if I miss the deadline?
Late applications will not be accepted for any reason. The DPI recommends parents fill out an open enrollment application online or hand-deliver a completed application to the district they are applying for. Postmarks do not count.
Do I have to pay tuition or extra fees to open enroll my child?
Parents do not need to pay tuition to send their child to a different school within the state of Wisconsin if they apply during open enrollment. They are charged the same fees as resident students.
Can my application be rejected?
A school district can deny an application if it does not have space available for the student. Applications can also be denied if a special education program for a special needs student is not available in the nonresident district or if the student has been expelled for certain violent conduct. If an application is denied, parents may appeal the decision within 30 days of being notified.
Will the nonresident district provide transportation for my child?
Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from school. Districts may opt to provide some transportation. Nonresident districts are required to provide transportation for students with disabilities if transportation is required in the child's individualized education program.
If my child already attends a different district under open enrollment, do I have to reapply every year?
Once a child is accepted into the nonresident school district, he or she may continue to attend without reapplying. The nonresident district may require the student to reapply one time at the beginning of middle school or junior high, and high school.
What if I change my mind? Can my child return to our home district?
Students are not obligated to attend a nonresident district if they've been accepted. Even after the school year begins, a student may return to their resident district at any time. They may not return to the nonresident school district however unless they reapply during the next application period in February.
- Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Students and parents have until Feb. 22 to apply for admission to a school district other than their home district under state open enrollment guidelines. The open enrollment period began Feb. 4 throughout the state.
The time frame is a potential make-or-break deal from some families who want to attend school in a different district. During the open enrollment period, parents can apply to send their child to a different district and pay only the fees a resident student will pay. Parents can apply to enroll their child to a nonresident district at any time, but enrolling outside the open enrollment window means parents are responsible for paying tuition to the nonresident district - which will run somewhere around $6,000, Monroe business administrator Ron Olson said.
The state began open enrollment for the 1998-99 school year. Since then, it's been seen as both a blessing and curse by local school districts, depending on whom you ask. On one hand, it can bring in new students, and the resulting state dollars they bring with them, into the district. On the other hand, it can mean losing students to other districts that may be viewed as more attractive.
But open enrollment isn't really that black and white and determining the financial impact open enrollment has on a school district isn't a straightforward task.
"It's not like each additional kid gets your more money," Olson said. In some cases, an additional student may only bring in 10 cents on the dollar in additional aid money.
For some districts, open enrollment can cost the district money. But for Monroe, it's not really an issue.
"We're a little ahead," Olson said, noting the amount was not significant. "We're pretty close to even on open enrollment."
Numbers are never precise until the school year is done and over. "Once the year is over, we can look at revenues and expenditures," Olson said.
Where money from open enrollment becomes key is in the burgeoning area of online education. Open enrollment allows districts throughout the state, including Monroe, to open virtual schools. Virtual schools allow students from anywhere in Wisconsin or even across the globe, to study and complete classes online. That means an almost limitless market for potential new students.
It's been a big financial boost for Monroe: Olson said the virtual school brings in about $1.5 million to district coffers, while in-classroom students who are in Monroe via open enrollment bring in about $300,000.
With both traditional and virtual students applying for open enrollment, it's hard to know exactly what enrollment figures will look like until school actually begins, Olson said. Many parents apply for open enrollment to keep their options open for the coming year, but don't end up sending their child to a different district.
"You receive a lot more applications than actually come to fruition," Olson said.