Open Enrollment

Wisconsin’s full-time-time inter-district public school open enrollment program allows parents to apply for their children to attend school in a school district other than the one in which they reside. [Wis. Stats. § 118.51]

Pupils in 5-year-old kindergarten to grade 12 may apply to participate in open enrollment.

Open enrollment for prekindergarten, 4-year-old kindergarten, and early childhood education is limited. Parents should call their resident school districts to find out if their preschool-aged children qualify for open enrollment.

The open enrollment application period for the school year is from February – April of each year. Parents/guardians may apply online here at DPI's open enrollment site

Applications outside of the timeframe listed above can still be accepted; however, an alternative open enrollment form must be submitted. Parents/guardians may apply online here at DPI's open enrollment site

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.

Parents are responsible for providing 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.