Open enrollment deadline April 30, 2012

Applications may be submitted from Feb. 6, 2012 until April 30, 2012 at 4 p.m. for the state's Open Enrollment program that allows parents and guardians to choose the public school district their children will attend next school year. For exceptions to the open enrollment application period, click here.

Under the Public School Open Enrollment Program, parents must apply to attend a school district in which they do not reside. Applications are for the 2012-2013 school year. Parents may request that a child be enrolled in a specific school or program.

Who can apply?

Any student from any district, with the understanding that parents/guardians must provide all transportation to and from school.

How do you apply?

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Open Enrollment application process is now online. From midnight Feb. 6 through 4 p.m. April 30, applicants may complete and submit applications 24 hours a day. Online applications are automatically sent directly to resident and nonresident school districts as well as the DPI. Online applicants are encouraged to print the full completed application for your records. Please visit here to fill out an application.

Those who do not have access to a computer may request paper applications from any school district. Paper applications must be sent to the individual nonresident school districts within the application period.

Please do not submit both paper and online applications.

Do I need to submit any documents with my application?

No, just the completed application with parent/guardian signature and date.

Where do I submit my the application?

The applications must be submitted to the distict that they are trying to enter, not the home district. Forms can be mailed or brought to the district in person.

Who gets the application?

Most districts have a designated Open Enrollment Coordinator. In the Hamilton School District, forms may be submitted to the Superintendent's Office, located in Hamilton High School.

When do I find out if my child has been accepted?

Your resident district and all districts to which families have applied will notify parents in writing. The district to which you applied will notify parents by June 8. Resident districts will notify parents of approval to leave by June 15.

Are there any seats available?

Right now, the district has no seats available, except for students who are currently attending the district and are applying after attending here through a tuition waiver.

Will the number of seats change?

The number of seats can change. The state law allows the district to estimate our needs up until the Open Enrollment lottery. Students who do not get a seat through the lottery are placed on a waiting list.

How does the waiting list work?

Our district creates a waiting list at each grade level. If seats become available, we contact families and invite them to register. The district strives to make decisions regarding acceptance prior to the start of the school year.

Are grades or attendance a consideration?

No, the state law only requires that schools review pre-expulsion and expulsion records and check to see if a child is in special education.

Does the Open Enrollment program allow people to apply who are in special education programs?

Yes, however, as with any student, there must be space in the grade level as well as space in the special education program(s) that the child needs.

Can K4 students apply?

Yes, K4 students may apply, but the district of residence must also have a K4 program. In other words, you must have a K4 program in your home district to be considered to enter another district's K4 program.

What if my child is accepted at more than one district?

Parents have until June 29, or within 10 days of receiving notice that the student was selected from the waiting list, when they must complete a final form, to decide which district to attend.

More information:

Once a student is accepted into a school district, the student may continue to attend the district without having to reapply every year with three exceptions:

• The nonresident district may require each student to reapply one time only -- at the beginning of middle school or high school.
• Under certain circumstances, a student who needs special education may be required to return to the student's resident district.
• Poor attendance can be a criterion for dismissal from the program and a student may be required to return to their resident district.

A student who is attending a nonresident school district under Open Enrollment may return to her or his resident school at any time. 

Transportation is the responsibility of the parent. Reimbursement of transporation costs is available for low-income parents whose children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the federal school lunch program.

For answers to specific questions not provided on-line or in informational brochures, please contact: