Open enrollment is touted as the answer to attending school in a district other than the one you live in. It is important to note upfront that 24% of requests are turned down. This has been designed to placate taxpayers and support lower functioning School Districts, in my opinion.

It seems to be the preferred route for school boards, perhaps because they still receive income from the student in Open Enrollment, with no costs.

Public School Open Enrollment

https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment

What is Open Enrollment?

The inter-district public school open enrollment program allows parents to apply for their children to attend public school in a school district other than the one in which they reside.

Can applications be denied?

Both the nonresident and resident school districts may deny an application for reasons specified in state law.  If an application is denied by either the resident or nonresident school district, the parent may file an appeal with the DPI within 30 days. The DPI is required to affirm the school district’s decision unless the DPI determines that the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable.

Open Enrollment is denied 24% of the time. It appears that it is denied for children with special needs due to the cost of service. (How does this stand up to the Americans with Disability Act?).

How do students get to school?

Parents are responsible to provide transportation to and from school in the nonresident school district, except that transportation required in a child’s IEP must be provided by the nonresident school district. A nonresident or resident school district is permitted (but not required) to provide transportation to open enrolled pupils, however, the nonresident school district is prohibited from picking up or dropping off a pupil within the boundaries of the pupil’s resident school district unless the resident school district agrees.  Low-income parents may apply to the DPI for reimbursement of a portion of their transportation costs.

The Wayzata School District, (Minnesota), policy on open enrollment.

“Open enrollment placements for 2020-2021 are complete for all grades except 8th, where we have a small number of openings. If interested please submit an application as soon as possible. The Wayzata School Board voted to close open enrollment (families not living in the district) for the 2020-2021 school year in grades 1-12 due to capacity constraints. Applications for a small number of kindergarten-age students (1% of the class size) were approved. Per Minnesota State Statute, siblings of existing students have priority. If needed, a lottery is conducted with applications submitted for kindergarten in order to stay within the 1% statutory requirement.”