Adoption Date: 06/22/2021

History: 08/24/21 (updated), 03/22/22 (updated), 7/26/22 (updated), 11/29/22 (updated), 2/14/23 (reviewed), 2/13/24 (reviewed), 8/13/24 (updated)

The school district will participate in open enrollment as a sending district. As a sending district, the board will allow resident students who meet the requirements to open enroll to another public school district. The board of directors will not agree to waive the athletic ineligibility period as the district of residence unless the student meets a state identified good cause exception.

Parents or guardians requesting open enrollment out of the school district for their student will notify the sending and receiving school districtno later than March 1 in the school year preceding the first year desired for open enrollment. The notice is made on forms provided by the Department of Education. The forms are available on the district website or at the Educational Services Center.

Parents or guardians of children who will begin kindergarten in the school district are exempt from the open enrollment March 1 deadline. Parents or guardians of children who will begin kindergarten and prekindergarten children enrolled in special education programs and included in the district’s basic enrollment will file in the same manner set forth above by September 1. Parents or guardians who have good cause as defined by law for failing to meet the March 1 deadline may make an open enrollment request by September 1 unless another deadline applies.  

The receiving district will approve or deny open enrollment requests according to the timelines established by law. The parents or guardian may withdraw the open enrollment request prior to the start of the school year. The receiving district’s superintendent or designee will notify the parents or guardian and sending school district by mail within five days of the school district’s action to approve or deny the open enrollment request.

An open enrollment request out of the school district from parents of a special education student is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The determining factor for approval of such an open enrollment request will be whether the special education program available in the receiving school district is appropriate for the student's needs. The area education agency director of special education serving the receiving district will determine whether the program is appropriate. The special education student will remain in the school district until the final determination is made.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent or designee to maintain open enrollment request applications and notice forms. It will also be the responsibility of the superintendent or designee to develop appropriate office procedures and administrative regulations necessary for open enrollment requests.

 

Policy References:

Legal Reference:

Iowa Code §§ 139A.8; 274.1; 279.11; 282.1, .3, .8, .18; 299.1.
281 I.A.C. 17.

Cross Reference:

501.15    Open Enrollment Transfers - Procedures as a Receiving District