Fact Sheet: Wisconsin Public Schools Open Enrollment Resources

This resource is intended as a self-advocacy guide for people with disabilities and is not legal advice. For legal advice specific to your situation, please contact an attorney.

Open Enrollment for Students with Disabilities

Wisconsin students with disabilities can participate in public school open enrollment. There are two ways to apply:

1. Standard application for the following school year during the application period from February through April.

2. Alternative application for the current school year under certain circumstances.

A student may not be denied open enrollment because the student has a disability or based on the category of disability. However, an open enrollment application may be denied if the nonresident school district does not have space available for the student.

• Children with IEPs: For a student with a disability, availability includes space in the special education program and the services required by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

• Section 504 Plans: Students eligible under Section 504 may only be denied open enrollment for the same reasons that a student without a disability may be denied.

If an IEP is developed or revised for a student who is already attending a nonresident school district, the nonresident district may determine whether it has the special education and related services the student needs.

If the necessary services are not available, the nonresident school district may notify the parent and resident school district that the student must return to the resident school district. If the necessary special education and related services are available, the nonresident school district must offer a placement to the parent.

Resources from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

• Open Enrollment Application Information - Information about open enrollment application dates, timelines, procedures, exceptions, and alternative applications.

• Open Enrollment Special Education - Information about public school open enrollment for students with disabilities who require special education services.

• Open Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions - Detailed questions and answers about Wisconsin public school open enrollment for students with and without disabilities.

• Information Bulletin: Special Education Space Determinations and Reasons for Denial for Open Enrollment - Information about how school districts determine available special education space, reasons an application may be denied, and the consistent use of school board policies and criteria.

• Information Bulletin: Full-Time Public School Open Enrollment Appeals - Information for Parents - Information about appealing a school board's open enrollment decision, including reasons for appeal, filing requirements, how an appeal is processed, and possible outcomes.

Open Enrollment Contact Information

• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Public School Open Enrollment

• Phone: (888) 245-2732, ext. 2

• Email: openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov