Controlled Open Enrollment

The Florida Legislature recognizes the value of an educational system that provides numerous and meaningful options for students and their parents. In order to promote and encourage parental involvement and ensure students have access to a school that meets their needs, the Florida Legislature enacted Section 1002.31, Florida Statutes, which directs each school district to develop a controlled open enrollment plan.

A controlled open enrollment plan allows school districts to make student school assignments using parents’ indicated preferential school choice as a significant factor.

Each district school board and charter school must adopt a controlled open enrollment plan that allows a parent from any school district in the state to enroll his or her child in and transport his or her child to any public school that has not reached capacity. The controlled open enrollment plan is in addition to the existing choice programs such as magnet schools, alternative schools, special programs, advanced placement, and dual enrollment.

District and charter school capacity determinations must be current and must be identified on their respective websites. Districts must incorporate the specifications, plans, elements, and commitments contained in the school district educational facilities plan and the long-term work programs required under Section 1013.35, Florida Statutes, into their capacity determinations.

Districts must provide preferential treatment in their controlled open enrollment processes to:

• Dependent children of active duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders;
• Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone;
• Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent; and
• Students residing in the district.

For more information about a district’s Controlled Open Enrollment plan, please contact the district. Contact information for each district can be found at the following link: School District Contact Information

Charter schools are required to annually post on their website the application process to participate in their controlled open enrollment plan. For questions about charter school plans, please contact the charter school. Contact information for each charter school can be found at the following link: Charter School Directory