Open Enrollment Flexibility

Military-directed moves frequently disadvantage military families navigating school enrollment options for their children. States can assist by increasing military-connected students’ access to schooling options, allowing them to remain in their current school placement despite a relocation from temporary to permanent housing, and including them within existing enrollment prioritization systems.

Many states have modified their education statutes to improve military family access to a variety of schooling options through flexible interdistrict and intradistrict transfer policies, magnet schools and charter schools.

The following best practices are enacted state laws or policies that have been identified as gold standard examples in meeting the criteria of this priority.

ArizonaOpen Enrollment FlexibilityHB 2311 04/02/2024

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This bill added the children of members of the armed forces on active duty or killed in action to the open enrollment preference categories for charter and local education agencies.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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ArkansasOpen Enrollment FlexibilitySB 458 03/28/2023HB 1545 03/19/2025HB 1545 04/10/2025

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This act further improves the Arkansas Military Child School Transitions Act of 2021, § 6-28-101 et seq., by: (1) Eliminating the one-year limitation on eligibility of children of Gold Star families and medically separated or retired families to be covered by this act; (2) Allowing public schools to apply provisions of this act to all students who apply for enrollment in a public school in addition to those students who are dependents of members of the uniformed services; (3) Defining actions for military services families to accomplish when applying for enrollment in advance of their arrival in Arkansas; (4) Expanding authority of receiving districts' special education staff members to proactively collaborate with sending districts to facilitate a smooth transition of incoming students with disabilities; and (5) Providing for the Purple Star School Program development and administration.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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ArkansasOpen Enrollment FlexibilitySB 458 03/28/2023HB 1545 03/19/2025HB 1545 04/10/2025

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For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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CaliforniaOpen Enrollment FlexibilityAB 2949 09/10/2018

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This bill provides placement stability for military children, allowing them to remain in their current school placement for the duration of the school year following a move out of their school or district of residence. Previously enacted statutes also require school districts of choice to establish a priority for children of military personnel to attend school outside of his/her district of residence, if requested by the parent; and prohibits school districts of residence from releasing a military child from attendance if the receiving school district approves the request.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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ConnecticutOpen Enrollment FlexibilityHB 6442 04/30/2025HB 6442 05/23/2025HB 6442 05/30/2025

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With Governor Lamont's signature, Public Act 25-15, allows military-connected children in Connecticut to transfer any Individual Education Plan within 30 days of enrollment, and allows military-connected children to remain in their school district for the duration of the school year, even if their parent relocates due to military orders. Any child in grade eleven, may continue for one additional school year to graduate from that district.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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FloridaOpen Enrollment Flexibility 07/01/2020

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School-aged dependents of military personnel, otherwise known as military students, shall be provided preferential treatment in the open enrollment process.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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KentuckyOpen Enrollment FlexibilityHB266 03/24/2020

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Amend KRS 159.075 to include parents or guardians who are transferring to a reserve component or separating from the military under honorable conditions; include a home under contract to be built as a qualifying residence; allow qualifying students to temporarily reside outside of district if the housing is unavailable and be included in the attending district's average daily attendance.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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North CarolinaOpen Enrollment FlexibilityHB615 05/06/2025SB 257 05/22/2025SB118 07/09/2025

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SB118 provides military families making a military-directed move to North Carolina the flexibility to enroll their children in school in the school district of their anticipated permanent residence instead of their temporary residency. It provides military families one year to provide proof of residency for school enrollment purposes. If a military-connected child is a high school junior or senior, they will be permitted to remain in the initial school they enrolled despite any subsequent changes in residency.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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UtahOpen Enrollment FlexibilitySB 233 02/25/2022SB 233 03/03/2022SB 233 03/24/2022

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This bill expands access to existing open enrollment options for military children in Utah by allowing students to remain in their current school placement despite a change of residence through the end of the school year for students grades K-10 and until graduation for students in grades 11-12. The bill also provides priority consideration for military students who apply for open enrollment.

For more information, view the full legislative or policy details.

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Explore tools, documents and maps that support this priority and help you better understand efforts and progress.

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Open Enrollment Flexibility

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Open Enrollment Flexibility

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