Section 281.17.6. Restrictions to open enrollment requests.

A district board may exercise the following restrictions related to open enrollment requests.

       17.6(1) Enrollment loss caps. Rescinded IAB 12/8/93, effective 1/12/94.

       17.6(2) Voluntary diversity plans or court-ordered desegregation plans. In districts with court-ordered desegregation or voluntary diversity plans where there is a requirement to maintain minority and nonminority student ratios according to the plan, the superintendent of the district may deny a request for open enrollment if it is found that the enrollment or release of a pupil will adversely affect the district’s court-ordered desegregation plan or voluntary diversity plan. Open enrollment requests that would facilitate the court-ordered desegregation plan or voluntary diversity plan shall be given priority over other open enrollment requests received by the district. A parent/guardian whose request for open enrollment is denied by the superintendent of the district on the basis of its adverse effect on the district’s court-ordered desegregation plan or voluntary diversity plan may appeal that decision to the district board.

       17.6(3) Policy on insufficient classroom space. No receiving district shall be required to accept an open enrollment request if it has insufficient classroom space to accommodate the pupil(s). Each district board shall adopt a policy which defines the term “insufficient classroom space” for that district. This policy shall establish a basis for the district to make determinations on the acceptance or denial, as a receiving district, of an open enrollment request. This policy may include, but shall not be limited to, one or more of the following: nature of the educational program, grade level, available instructional staff, instructional method, physical space, pupil-teacher ratio, equipment and materials, facilities either being planned or under construction, facilities planned to be closed, finances available, sharing agreement in force or planned, bargaining agreement in force, law or rules governing special education class size, or board-adopted district educational goals and objectives. This policy shall be reviewed annually by the district board.

       17.6(4) Designation of attendance center. The right of a parent/guardian to request open enrollment is to a district other than the district of residence, not to an attendance center within the nonresident district. In accepting an open enrollment pupil, the receiving district board has the same authority it has in regard to its resident pupils as provided by Iowa Code section 279.11, to “determine the particular school which each child shall attend.” In the application process, however, the parent or guardian may request an attendance center of preference.