CHAPTER 17OPEN ENROLLMENT28117.1(282) Intent and purpose. It is the intent of Iowa Code section 282.18 to maximize parental choice in providing a wide range of educational opportunities which are not available for pupils because of where they live. It is the purpose of this chapter to give guidance and direction to parents/guardians, public school district administrators and boards in making quality decisions regarding school district choice for the education of pupils.28117.2(282) Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter the indicated terms are defined as follows:
"Alternative receiving district" means a district to which a parent/guardian petitions for the open enrollment of a pupil from a receiving district. An alternative receiving district could be the district of residence of the parents/guardians.
"Attendance center" means a public school building that contains classrooms used for instructional purposes for elementary, middle, or secondary school students.
"Court-ordered desegregation plan" means a decree, judgment, or order entered by a court in response to a case or controversy alleging the district engaged in unlawful segregation. A desegregation plan is not “court-ordered” merely because a school district seeks approval of a voluntarily developed desegregation plan.
"Department" means the department of education.
"Director" means the director of the department of education or the director’s designee.
"Open enrollment" is the procedure allowing a parent/guardian to enroll one or more pupils in a public school district other than the district of residence at no tuition cost.
"Receiving district" is the public school district in which a parent/guardian desires to have the pupil enrolled or the district accepting the application for enrollment of a pupil under the provisions of Iowa Code section 282.18.
"Resident district" is the district of residence for school purposes of the parent/guardian and the district in which an open enrollment pupil shall be counted for the purpose of generating state aid regardless of the district in which the pupil is enrolled.
"Sending district" is synonymous with the term resident district.
"Sibling" means a child residing primarily in the same household as the child for whom an open enrollment request is filed and who is related by adoption, blood or marriage to the child for whom an open enrollment request is filed. “Sibling” also includes a foster child who is placed in the same household as the child for whom an open enrollment request is filed.
Related ARC(s): 5869C28117.3(282) Application process. The following procedure shall be used by parents/guardians and school districts in processing open enrollment applications. 17.3(1) Parent/guardian responsibilities. A parent/guardian shall formally notify both the district of residence and the receiving district of the request for open enrollment. The request for open enrollment shall be made on forms provided by the department of education. The parent/guardian is required to indicate on the form if the request is for a pupil requiring special education, as provided by Iowa Code chapter 256B. The forms for open enrollment application are available from each public school district and area education agency and from the department of education. 17.3(2) School district responsibilities. a. The board of the resident district shall take no action on an open enrollment request except for a request made under rule 281—17.14(282). b. The board of the receiving district shall act on an open enrollment request. (1) The receiving district superintendent shall provide notification of either approval or denial of the request to the parent/guardian and to the resident district within five days of board action. (2) As an alternative procedure, the receiving board may by policy authorize the superintendent to approve, but not deny, applications. c. The parent/guardian may withdraw an open enrollment request any time prior to the board’s action on the application. d. The board of the receiving district shall comply with the provisions of rule 281—17.11(282) if the application for open enrollment is for a pupil requiring special education as provided by Iowa Code chapter 256B. e. Notification to parents. (1) By September 30 of each school year, all districts shall notify parents of the following:- Transportation assistance; and
- Possible loss of athletic eligibility for open enrollment pupils.