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Open Enrollment & Tuition Waiver

The State of Wisconsin's public school open enrollment program allows parents/guardians living outside the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) boundaries to apply for their student to attend MMSD schools. This program is for students in grades 4K through grade 12.  

 

Open Enrollment 2025-26

 

Application Process

To attend MMSD through open enrollment:

  • You only need to apply once. Students already approved for open enrollment in MMSD do not need to reapply each year. Open enrollment approval continues through high school graduation.
  • Applications must be submitted between February 3 and April 30, 2025 (by 4:00 PM).
  • Both your resident school district and MMSD must approve your application.
  • If you missed the main window, you can apply through the Alternative Open Enrollment process for the 2025-26 school year starting July 1. When applying, you will need to use the 25-26 alternative open enrollment applications that are available to you starting July 1.

 

School Placement

  • MMSD will try to honor requests for specific schools or programs, but placement depends on space availability.
  • If your student currently attends an MMSD school, assignment to that school is not guaranteed and placement may change due to space.

 


Transportation

  • Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their students to and from school.
  • If your student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) requires transportation, MMSD will provide it.
  • For information on transportation reimbursement, please visit the Department of Public Instruction website.

 


MMSD Application Decisions

MMSD may deny an application if:

  • The necessary special education services are not available.
  • The student is being evaluated for special education but the evaluation is not complete.
  • The student was expelled for violent conduct in the current or previous two years.
  • The student was habitually truant from MMSD in any semester of the current or previous school year.

 

Important Dates

  • February 3 - April 30, 2025 (4:00 PM): Online application window.
  • June 6, 2025: MMSD will notify families of their application status (approval/denial) by email.
  • June 27, 2025:  Parents of approved applicants must notify MMSD if their student will attend in the 2025-26 school year. Failure to notify MMSD may result in the student not being allowed to attend.

 

Tuition Waiver Form

Tuition waivers are available to current students that will be moving on or after July 1. Students that attended MMSD in the 2024-25 school year will be allowed to remain at their current school district for the 2025-26 school year if they complete the tuition waiver.  Forms will be available for the 2025-26 school year in June.

 


Open Enrollment 2024-25

 

Application Process

The regular open enrollment period has now closed. Families who still wish to apply can use the alternative open enrollment application, which is open for the remainder of the school year. Please submit a separate application for each child. Completed forms should be emailed to enrollment@madison.k12.wi.us. You can expect a response within 20 days of us receiving your application.

 

Alternative Open Enrollment Application

 

Tuition Waiver Form 2024-2025


Tuition waivers are available to current students that moved on or after July 1 and will allow them to remain at their current school district for the 2024-25 school year.  If the student wishes to continue in MMSD for the following year, then the student is required to apply for open enrollment.

 

For more information

MMSD Contacts:
Enrollment Office
Phone: 608-663-4957
Email:  openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov
 

Student Services (Special Education questions)
Phone: 608-663-8429
Email: studentservicespecialed@madison.k12.wi.us
 

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Public School Open Enrollment Program


Open Enrollment Policy

Open Enrollment Brochures 2025-26

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