Committee clears measure extending deadlines for open enrollment across Wisconsin school districts
MADISON… Military families across Wisconsin would have access to more education options for their children under legislation extending open enrollment application deadlines, which cleared Senate Committee today.
Sen. André Jacque (R-New Franken), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs and author of the measure, said Wisconsin is currently home to over 15,000 children of active duty and National Guard and Reserve members.
“Military families not only move frequently between posts; they also move from temporary to permanent housing at times that are not always in sync with the school calendar and open enrollment application cycles,” Sen. Jacque said. “These limited housing options too often result in limited educational options.”
Sen. Jacque said the legislation, drafted at the request of the Department of Defense state liaison office, would give military parents better access to more education options for their children by extending deadlines for open enrollment applications across Wisconsin school districts. The bill:
- Extends the current 30-day deadline to 90 days after their orders are issued for a military parent to apply under open enrollment in our state
- Clarifies that this policy also applies to military orders from guard and reserve units from any state
“Wisconsin should seek to remove any obstacles standing between military families obtaining quality education for their children,” Sen. Jacque said. “This increased flexibility for military parents is one more thing we can do to make Wisconsin the best state in the union for our military members.”
The measure (Senate Bill 134) cleared Sen. Jacque’s committee in a unanimous 5-0 vote. It must now pass the full Senate and Assembly, and be signed by the Governor, to become law.
Senator André Jacque represents Northeast Wisconsin’s First Senate District, consisting of Door and Kewaunee Counties and portions of Brown, Calumet, Manitowoc, and Outagamie counties.
