WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WXPR) — Wisconsin’s annual Open Enrollment program for public school students begins next week.
The Department of Public Instruction will begin taking the online applications February 5th, which allow any student in a public school to transfer to another school in the state.
DPI Spokesman Tom McCarthy says there’s a variety of reasons that parents choose to open enroll their students. “Families where the [parents] are still working and they travel a long distance to work often find it convenient to travel to that school district.” He adds that sometimes a neighboring school provides a better fit for the student “[They may provide] what you think would be the best suited learning experience for your son or daughter. We continue to it raise in popularity and more students take advantage of it.”
The numbers back that up as well. When statewide Open Enrollment began in 1998 about 2,500 students applied. Last year that number grew to over 58,000. But McCarthy says just because you apply for open enrollment, doesn’t mean you’ll get it. “So if you’re going to go to another public school district far away from you and you have no means of getting there. The likelihood of you continuing to go to that school is rather low,” said McCarthy.
Parents may appeal any decision to the DPI, however according to their web site they are required to affirm the school district’s decision unless the DPI determines that the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable.
Open enrollment applications will be taken until 4pm on April 28th. More information can be found at the DPI’s web site by clicking here.
