Iowa’s open enrollment law allows students residing in one school district to request transfer to another school district upon the parent’s request. This request is made by completing an Open Enrollment Application (download below):
To access instructions for completing the Open Enrollment Application, click here. The deadline for filing the completed form with the resident and receiving district for grades 1-12 is March 1 of the year preceding the school year for which open enrollment is desired. The deadline for filing the completed form with the resident and receiving district for kindergarten is September 1 of the school year of enrollment into kindergarten.
Parents are responsible for transporting children who are open-enrolled to another district. Open-enrolled students from low-income families may qualify for transportation assistance. The parent/guardian should file for assistance with the resident district.
Students who open-enroll in grades 9 through 12, shall not be eligible to participate in varsity contests and competitions during the first 90 school days after their transfer.
If an application is denied based on repeated acts of harassment or a serious health condition, the parent/guardian may appeal to the State Board of Education. If an application is denied, an appeal may be filed through an Iowa District court. The appeal process is outlined in the Open Enrollment Handbook.
The district will have open enrollment available for all grades (K-12) for the 2010-2011 school year per school board decision on December 14, 2009.
For additional information, please click here to access the Iowa Department of Education's page on open enrollment.
