Open Enrollment Available Seats
2026-2027

**In Wisconsin, School Boards determine the number of open enrollment seats for all students—including those with disabilities—each January by assessing available space at each grade level and in special education programs for the upcoming school year. 

When a family applies for open enrollment and one of the student’s applying has a disability, the district carefully reviews the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to understand the student’s needs and services. After the IEP has been reviewed, the district reviews the space available in special education programs to determine if there is space available in the appropriate program for the student applying.  If there is no space available, then the application will be denied. 

In the Waunakee Community School District, we have new students with disabilities enroll every year from other districts, other states and other countries.  On average we gain 20-40 new resident students with disabilities every single school year.  Because we understand this trend and it has continued for more than a decade, we are unable to “hold” a large number of spots open for students from outside the district.  

The district’s open enrollment policy also outlines that if a student enters the district through open enrollment and is then evaluated and placed in special education, the district does have the right to return the student to their resident district. 

If you have specific questions about open enrollment as it relates to students with disabilities, please reach out to Tiffany Loken, Director of Special Education at tiffanyloken@waunakee.k12.wi.us.