Open Enrollment Information
Open Enrollment is the process by which a parent or guardian residing in an Iowa district may enroll their child(ren) into another Iowa school district under the terms and conditions of Iowa Code 282.18 and Iowa Administrative Code 281-17.
House File (HF) 2589 eliminates the March 1 deadline for open enrollment. This change allows parents/guardians to apply for open enrollment at any time without the need for good cause. The receiving district may deny an open enrollment request if one of the following applies:
- The application violates the district’s insufficient classroom space policy
- The district does not have the appropriate special education program
- The application would adversely affect the district’s implementation of a court-ordered desegregation plan
- The student has been expelled or suspended
If a parent/guardian moves and wishes for their student to continue at the original resident district under open enrollment (often known as the “continuation rule”), requests cannot be denied due to insufficient classroom space policies.
The Board of Education will continue to evaluate annually open enrollment policies. Open enrollment into the district is governed by:
- Iowa Code 282.18
- Board Policy 501.14 – Open Enrollment Transfers – Procedures as a Sending District
- Board Policy 501.15 – Open Enrollment Transfers – Procedures as a Receiving District
- Board Policy 606.06 – Insufficient Classroom Space
- Open Enrollment Guidelines
Documents
- Open Enrollment Application
- Open Enrollment Handbook
- Open Enroll Transportation Assistance Guidance
- Guidance for Athletic Eligibility for Open Enrolled Students
For More Information:
- To obtain an open enrollment handbook, application, or for more information, please refer to the Iowa Department of Education website.
