H.B. 349 Open Enrollment Revisions

H.B. 349 Open Enrollment Revisions

1. Clarifies reasons a school may reject an application for enrollment.

2. Defines a schools capacity for open enrollment based on district average class size. As class sizes drop, the capacity of the school drops proportionally.

3. Modifies the threshold below which a school is open for enrollment of nonresident students from 90% of capacity to 90% of capacity or space for 40 additional students.

4. Introduces a “late enrollment” period during which a student may apply for enrollment in a nonresident school. (Late enrollment capacity is based on current staff; therefore late enrollment transfers will not effect staffing plans). The current open enrollment period ends in the February prior to the start of the school year.

5. Requires local school boards to post data on the school district's website regarding school capacity and applications for enrollment of nonresident students.

6. Requires local school boards to establish policies ensuring that schools do not discriminate against any individual or group of nonresident students.


“National PTA supports public school choice, and believes that public school choice can instill competition and competition’s inherent benefits into the education system without diverting taxpayer money to private schools…There are a variety of reasons for parents to seek this type of public school choice, including enrolling a student in a school closer to the parent’s employment, facilitating access to before- and after-school care, and allowing a student to participate in a unique course of academic work.” Source: www.pta.org

“I believe this bill to be a good one that supports the notion of family choice in education. I am a strong believer that families should have tremendous voice in school choice for their children. This bill is a clear, responsible way to accomplish that goal.”
Superintendent Bryan Bowles
Davis School District
Utah’s ’06-07 Superintendent of the Year

Sixteen percent or approximately 85,000 Utah children will not graduate from high school. Parents have the primary responsibility to reduce that number. Open Enrollment empowers parents to make the changes that are best for their children.