Families will have more time to decide where their children should go to school.
Governor Walker signed a measure Wednesday that extends the open enrollment period from three weeks to three months. “Ultimately, I think it’s just one more tool that parents can use to be active in the best interest of their individual son or daughter.”
Open enrollment allows parents to decide whether their children should go to public schools outside their home district. Walker says the longer window gives families time to make a decision if something unexpected comes up. “Whereas you might have a tragedy, you may have movement, you have career change, all those things make sure that a kid — the student — ultimately isn’t penalized, and that’s why I think it had broad bipartisan support for this change.”
The bill gives home districts more of a say in the transfer requests – and it gives applicants who are rejected a chance to appeal those decisions to the state. “Before, roughly three weeks was a little restrictive … roughly three months makes it a little bit easier, without being impossible for school districts to comply with.”
Open enrollment starts Monday. The new deadline now is April 30th.
Matt Lehman, WSAU
