Open Enrollment - FAQs

What is open enrollment? Open Enrollment is the process by which a parent or guardian residing in an Iowa school district may enroll their child into a public school district other than the one in which they reside.

How does a parent/guardian open enroll a child? You may request an open enrollment application from any Iowa school district, area education agency or Iowa Department of Education. An application must be completed for each child and filed with the receiving school district. If the resident district has a voluntary desegregation plan the application should be filed for approval by the resident district before a receiving district can approve the request.

What is the open enrollment filing deadline? Forms must be filed with the receiving district (or resident district if a desegregation plan is in place) no later than March 1 of the school year preceding the school year for which open enrollment is requested. For example, an application must be filed no later than March 1, 2008 in order to be approved for 2008/09 school year enrollment.

The deadline for Kindergarten students is September, 1. For further information on the definition of good cause, please contact Kelly Hatler at 563-332-5550 or refer to Iowa Code section 282.18 (16) at www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE

If the application is to continue in the original school district because of a move to another district, application must be made no later than the Thursday before the third Friday in September.

Does an application need to be filed for each child? Yes.

Do I need to file a new application each year? No. Once an application is approved, your child may continue in the receiving district until they graduate, or you move from your resident district.

Can I choose which elementary school my child will attend?  Open enrollment is for approval into a district rather than a particular school.  You may request a specific elementary school by completing the question pertaining to preference of attendance center on the application. It is also recommended that you write a brief letter to the Superintendent, Dr. James Spelhaug, stating your attendance center request.  Every effort is made to place students in their school of first choice.

Is there any cost involved? There are no tuition costs to you for an open enrolled student.  However, all regular registration fees for participation in the educational programs will be your responsibility.

Will the district provide transportation for my child? You would be responsible to transport your child to the nearest bus stop within the Pleasant Valley School District.  Your child would then be transported to school with no charge to you. 

Can my request be denied? In general, a request can be denied if:  filing deadlines are not met, if the resident district has a desegregation plan that would be adversely affected, if there is not classroom space for the student, or if the student is under suspension or expulsion from his/her current school district.

 What are my options if the open enrollment application is denied? The parent may file an appeal with the Iowa Department of Education within 30 days of the Board of Education’s decision to deny the application.  Appeals may be made only if the open enrollment application was originally filed because of repeated acts of harassment or because the child has a serious health condition that the resident district cannot adequately address.

If the denial is based on a desegregation plan and/or any other reasons it may be appealed to district court.

Do we need to open enroll if we move out of the district and want to remain in the same school district? Yes. You must file for open enrollment by the Thursday preceding the third Friday of the following September after your move.

What if we move to a different district from the original district we are open enrolled from and wish to continue? You may request an administrative transfer or your open enrollment by sending written notification to your receiving district as well as your old and new resident districts.

This applies to a move within Iowa only. Out of state residents are not eligible for open enrollment and would need to pay tuition to continue.

What about athletic eligibility? In most cases, a high school student who open enrolls is ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition during the student’s first 90 consecutive school days of enrollment in the receiving district. 

What is the Junior /Senior Rule? This is the section of the Iowa Code that allows 11^th and 12^th grade non-residents who were residents of the district during the preceding school year to remain in the district, tuition free until they graduate even though they are no longer residents of the district.  These students do not have to file open enrollment.

 Whom should I contact with further questions on open enrollment? You may contact Kelly Hatler at the Pleasant Valley Administration Center at (563)332-5550 or via email at hatlerk@pleasval.k12.ia.us