Open enrollment period starts Feb. 1, statewide

The online application period for the Public School Open Enrollment program for the 2021-22 school year, opens Monday, Feb. 1, and runs through April 30. With those open enrollment dates, parents and guardians can apply to send their children to any public school district in Wisconsin, during the 2021-22 school year, through the open enrollment program.

During the 2019-20 school year, 65,266 students transferred school districts through the open enrollment program. Transportation to and from a non-resident school, in most circumstances, is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. However, some school districts may provide partial transportation.

The Public School Open Enrollment program is funded by state general equalization aid transfers between sending and receiving school districts, with the transfer amount calculated on statutory provisions. For the 2020-21 school year, the transfer amount is an estimated $8,125 per student, or $12,977 for students with disabilities.

Resident districts cannot deny a student’s open enrollment application for cost reasons.

To assist in submitting open enrollment applications, a directory of public school districts is available on the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) website. Additional information from an open enrollment consultant is available toll-free, by calling 1-888-245-2732, or emailing openenrollment@ dpi.wi.gov.

Application materials and additional information on the program are available on the DPI’s website.