​
WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION FOR TALENTED & GIFTED

Wisconsin Association For Talented & Gifted

  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • News
    • Partnerships
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Meet The Board
    • Gifted Listserv
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Advanced and Accelerated Learning in WI
    • WATG Blogs >
      • News from the Board
      • Noticias de las Mesa Directiva
      • Gifted in Perspective
      • Dotados en Perspectiva
      • Ask the Doctor
      • Gifted @ Home
      • Student Voices
      • Guest Blogs
      • Tools to Use Today
      • From the Bookshelf
      • GT Meanderings
      • Advocacy Blog
      • Justice for All
    • Podcasts
    • Parenting
    • History + Pioneer Profiles
    • Awards & Scholarships
    • Past Newsletters
  • Equity
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Advocacy Blog
  • Annual Conference
    • 2023 Annual Conference
    • Keynote Speakers
    • Speakers #WATG22
    • Exhibitors/Sponsors
    • Parent Conference
    • Teen Conference
    • Logo Contest
    • Past Conferences
  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Membership
    • News
    • Partnerships
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Meet The Board
    • Gifted Listserv
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Advanced and Accelerated Learning in WI
    • WATG Blogs >
      • News from the Board
      • Noticias de las Mesa Directiva
      • Gifted in Perspective
      • Dotados en Perspectiva
      • Ask the Doctor
      • Gifted @ Home
      • Student Voices
      • Guest Blogs
      • Tools to Use Today
      • From the Bookshelf
      • GT Meanderings
      • Advocacy Blog
      • Justice for All
    • Podcasts
    • Parenting
    • History + Pioneer Profiles
    • Awards & Scholarships
    • Past Newsletters
  • Equity
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Advocacy Blog
  • Annual Conference
    • 2023 Annual Conference
    • Keynote Speakers
    • Speakers #WATG22
    • Exhibitors/Sponsors
    • Parent Conference
    • Teen Conference
    • Logo Contest
    • Past Conferences
  • Contact Us

Educational Options:  Open Enrollment

2/1/2018

0 Comments

 
In the midst of winter shortly after the new year comes a time when Wisconsin parents have the opportunity to explore educational options for their child.  Once a year Wisconsin has a period of time of Open Enrollment for public schools. 
 
This year the Wisconsin regular open enrollment period is from February 5 to April 30, 2018.  DPI accepts Open Enrollment Applications during this time-period, and only during this time-period (with a few exceptions-see Alternative Application). Applications may be completed online or on paper and given directly to the resident school district.  All applications for regular open enrollment must be received by 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2018.
 
To quote DPI: 
 
“What is Open Enrollment?  The inter-district public school open enrollment program allows parents to apply for their children to attend public school in a school district other than the one in which they reside.
 
Who can apply?  Any Wisconsin resident in 4K to grade 12 may apply to attend a nonresident school district under the open enrollment program. However, a child may transfer to a nonresident school district for early childhood education or 4K only if the child’s resident school district offers the same type of program and only if the child is eligible for that program in the resident school district.”  (Retrieved from:  https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment)
 
Open enrollment applications include brick and mortar schools (school buildings) and virtual (online) public schools.  The numbers of students enrolling in virtual schools has increased as parents seek appropriate education for their children, including gifted children.  Either type of school provides educational options for gifted children.
 
Why should parents of gifted children consider open enrollment?  The reasons are as varied as gifted children themselves.  Some parents wish to have their child attend a school closer to their workplace for the possibility of participating in the child’s schooling.  Other parents wish their child to attend a school they perceive as offering more gifted services than their resident school district.  Still other parents choose open enrollment because of a specific offering such as high quality academics, or certain fine arts or sports programs, or a positive school culture that works to prevent bullying.  There is also the reason of parents wanting to distance their family from a negative school situation where difficulty agreeing on gifted services has made working with the school too challenging.  All of these reasons and more may provide benefits for gifted children beyond what the home district offers. 
DPI has websites that provide a lot of information about the open enrollment process.  If you are considering open enrollment, or if you want to learn more information about this educational option please explore the following websites.  Click on the links on each web page to find further information about specific topics.  Please note that the online application will not appear on the home web page until February 5, the first day of the open enrollment period.
 
Open Enrollment Home Page:  https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment
Application Page:  https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment/applications
Downloadable Open Enrollment Brochure: 
https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/open-enrollment/pdf/oe-brochure-2018-19.pdf
Virtual Charter Schools:  https://dpi.wi.gov/sms/charter-schools/virtual-charter-schools
List of Virtual Charter Schools:  https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sms/Charter-Schools/pdf/17-18%20VCS%20list%20for%20web.pdf
Alternative Application:  https://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment/applications/alternative
 
Please note that each school district generally offers their own information and website about open enrollment.  It is a good idea to check with your home district to see what information they provide.  It is not necessary to inform the local school district that you are exploring open enrollment.
 
There is a very specific timeline that must be followed in the open enrollment process.  While parents must apply by 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2018, the final decision to attend the chosen school (if accepted) does not have to be made by parents until June 29, 2018.  The timeline may be found on the downloadable brochure on the Home Page or at the bottom of the Application Page.
 
If you want to learn more about open enrollment, there are three things you and your gifted child can do to learn about this educational option: 
1) go to the DPI websites, then go to your home school district’s open enrollment website and read the information to educate yourselves about this educational option. 
2) talk to parents who have chosen open enrollment for their gifted child.  By asking questions and listening to parents with experience in this realm, you will learn the pros, cons, and tips you can use to further educate yourself and make decisions.
3) this is very important:  attend open enrollment open houses that school districts host (including virtual schools) to meet school staff, observe classes, meet teachers, talk to parents whose children attend the school, and meet and talk with children who attend the school.  If a district in which you are interested does not offer an open house then contact the district and make an appointment to visit.
 
Meeting people, observing, and asking questions of those already attending is one of the best ways to gather information regarding the school and this educational option for your family. 
 
As one whose family chose virtual school open enrollment for our gifted child, I like to offer it as an educational option for gifted children (and other children, too).  Finding the right educational environment for a gifted child is a blessing, albeit usually a difficult task.  I encourage parents to explore the options of open enrollment to determine if it is worth considering for their child.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Ask the Doctor

    Picture
    Dr. Wanda Routier, Former WATG Board Member

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    August 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
WATG Privacy Statement

Get Involved

Advocacy
News
The Board

Resources

​Blogs
Awards & Scholarships
Pioneer Profiles
G/T Groups

Equity

Conference

Contact Us
Keynote Speakers
Logo Contest
Teen Conference
Past Conferences