Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment is the process that allows parents/guardians residing in an Iowa school district the option to enroll their children into another Iowa school district if space allows under the terms and conditions of Iowa Code section 282.18.
Deadlines
Date | 2024-2025 Deadline |
Applications to Approved Online Schools | The deadline does not apply to parents/guardians applying for their student to attend a public school district with an approved online school by the Iowa Department of Education |
June 30, 2024 | Any application filed on or before June 30, 2024 will not require good cause for waiving the March 1 deadline. The receiving district may accept open enrollment applications for the 2024-2025 school year without approval from the resident district. |
July 1, 2024 | Senate File 2435 takes effect. Applications for students in grades 1-12 will be denied unless the parent or guardian is able to demonstrate good cause. |
September 1, 2024 | Last day a parent/guardian may apply to open enroll their incoming preschool student who receives special education services requiring specially designed instruction (SDI). |
September 1, 2024 | Last day a parent/guardian may apply to open enroll their incoming kindergarten student. |
September 2, 2024 | Applications for incoming preschool students requiring SDI and kindergarten students will be denied unless the parent/guardian is able to demonstrate "good cause" under Iowa Code section 282.18. |
March 1, 2025 | Last day a parent/guardian may apply to open enroll their student in grades 1-12 for the upcoming school year. |
March 2, 2025 | Applications for students grades 1-12 will be denied unless the parent/guardian is able to demonstrate good cause. |
Junior/Senior Rule
The Junior/Senior Rule allows 11th and 12th grade students who move out of a district to return to the Iowa resident district that they attended during the preceding school year until they graduate, even though they are no longer residents of the district. These students do not have to file open enrollment. This does not apply to students who move out of state (Iowa Code 257.6(4))
Transportation
Families of students who live outside the District must arrange for transportation to school or arrange for transportation to a Hampton-Dumont school bus route. If a child open enrolls to a district that is contiguous to (or borders) the home district and the parents' income meets economic eligibility requirements, the family may receive a stipend for transportation or be provided transportation by the resident district.
Athletic Participation
Students who open enroll in grades nine through 12 are not eligible to participate in varsity contests and competitions during the first 90 school days of transfer (not counting summer school) unless an exception applies allowing immediate eligibility.
How to apply for open enrollment
1. Obtain the current open enrollment application available.
2. Complete the application(s). A separate application must be completed for each child requesting open enrollment.
3. Return the application(s) to the district where you currently reside and the district in which you seek enrollment.
We ask that you return the completed Open Enrollment Application to:
Amanda Heiden, Board Secretary Hampton-Dumont Community Schools 601 12th Ave NE, Hampton, IA 50441 Phone: 641-456-4300 Fax: 641-456-5750 Email: aheiden@hdcsd.org
Regular Office hours: Monday through Thursday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
Summer Office hours: Monday through Thursday 7:30 am – 3:30 pm and Friday 7:30 am - 12:30 pm