The Open Enrollment Process
Each district opting to allow interdistrict open enrollment students should have written application procedures consistent with the requirements of ORC 3313.98. Application procedures should be obtained from the superintendent’s office of the school district in which the student seeks to enroll. Students applying for interdistrict open enrollment must comply with all provisions of the open enrollment policy adopted by the board of education of the school district in which they are seeking admission. ORC 3313.981 requires that school districts report student interdistrict enrollment data to the DEW. This is completed through EMIS.
Effective April 9, 2025, Ohio law requires school districts, regardless of their open enrollment policy, to accept open enrollment students whose parent is active military stationed in Ohio. If the student's parent is discharged or released from active duty and the enrolling district has an open enrollment policy for students from adjacent districts, the student may remain enrolled in the district for the remainder of the school year.
Selecting Applicants
Applicants should be notified of their acceptance or rejection into the district pursuant to the policy adopted by the board of education. The date of the notification may be established by the board of education. The method and criteria used for making the selection of applicants must be public information. This information should be available to parents/guardians in the school district’s office.
Students enrolled or living in a building attendance area and students accepted into open enrollment during the previous year shall be given priority when determining how many and which student shall be allowed to open enrollment in the current school year. For ongoing open enrollment students, the accepting school or district should notify the native (home) school or district of any changes in the enrollment status of the students previously accepted.
When a new student is accepted under a district’s open enrollment policy, the accepting district should notify the native (home) district and request the student’s records. If the native (home) district has questions, the educating district is expected to cooperate. If requested, the educating district should provide proof of residence or, at the very least, the address that was used to determine the native (home) district.
Timelines
Each board of education should adopt timelines suitable for their district’s needs. Timelines for participating in intra- and interdistrict open enrollment are to be made public. Each school district should allow sufficient time to enable parents/guardians to make appropriate educational decisions. The following is a suggested timeline for a district allowing interdistrict open enrollment.
- May 1 Open enrollment applications are due in the superintendent’s office of the district considering open enrollment students.
- June 15 School districts inform parent/guardian whether the student has been accepted through open enrollment.
- June 30 Parent/guardian notifies the school district whether their child will attend the district under open enrollment.
An application for open enrollment can be denied if the application has not been received within the timeframes established by the local board of education. It is permissible for local boards of education to adopt a “late application” policy to permit the consideration of students after the deadline has passed.
Last Modified: 6/20/2025 8:49:59 AM