The open enrollment regular application period begins at midnight on Monday, February 3rd and continues until 4:00pm on Wednesday, April 30th. Important information related to the online parent application, how to access PDF fill-enabled applications and enter them into OPAL, and a reminder regarding open enrollment and virtual charter schools is included below.

 SCREENSHOTS OF ONLINE APPLICATION PAGES:

 Below is a link to a PDF version of screenshots of the open enrollment online parent application. The virtual charter schools pages in the sample application are updated. However, there may be changes that occur and the list will be accurate on the actual online application that will be available on February 3rd.

 We have found these screenshots extremely helpful in assisting parents when they are trying to fill out the online application. The link to the screenshots is https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/open-enrollment/2025-26-oe-online-parent-app-screenshots.pdf or you can go to our Resources and Links webpage and at the top of the webpage, you’ll find the link “2025-26 Open Enrollment Online Application Screenshots”.

 OPEN ENROLLMENT PDF FILL-ENABLED APPLICATIONS:

 The PDF fill-enabled versions of the open enrollment application forms (PI-9410) in English, Spanish, and Hmong are now available for download and the links are listed below. You can also access them from our Forms webpage.

         English: https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/forms/pdf/f9410.pdf

         Spanish: https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/forms/pdf/f9410-spanish.pdf

         Hmong: https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/forms/pdf/f9410-hmong.pdf

 Although these versions of the application are available, we still strongly encourage parents to apply for open enrollment using the online application.

 A reminder that parents cannot submit open enrollment applications until midnight on Monday, February 3rd at the earliest and must submit them no later than 4:00pm on Wednesday, April 30th.

 The applications currently have the 2025-26 virtual charter school list as of today; however, the list is subject to change.

 ENTERING INFORMATION INTO OPAL FROM PDF FILL-ENABLED APPLICATIONS:

 Only nonresident school districts are able to enter information from a PDF fill-enabled application into OPAL. They must be entered no later than the end of the day on May 1st.  Although you can begin entering these applications on February 3rd, we recommend, if possible, to wait to do so until the end of the application period. Some parents submit both an online application and a PDF version of it. If the PDF version is entered into OPAL and the parent has submitted an online application, this creates duplicates that later need to be deleted.

 Please do not try to enter PDF fill-enabled applications into the online parent application! Instead, in OPAL, please go to the Apps tab and from the All Applications page, click either Data Entry (on the gray bar) or the Add New App button (right-hand side above the list of applicants).

 Be careful! There are very few edits in the data entry page. Once you are finished, click Save.

 REMINDER ABOUT PARENTS APPLYING TO VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS:

 This information is important to keep in mind as parents inquire about potentially open enrolling to have their child attend virtual options offered in your district.

 Open enrolled students are required to physically attend school on a regular basis in a school located in the nonresident district on the days that school is in session, unless the student is enrolled in a virtual charter school. If your district only offers a virtual program and not a virtual charter school, open enrolled students may not attend that program unless they physically come into your district and take the courses in your district. [See Wis. Admin. Code § PI 36.11(1)].

 In addition, applications submitted to a nonresident school district to a virtual charter school are exempt from the three nonresident district maximum. This means there is no limit to the number of open enrollment applications a parent can submit to nonresident school districts with virtual charter schools. If a parent wishes to apply to more than three virtual charter schools, they can apply to up to three of them using the online parent application and then will need to complete and submit PDF fill-enabled applications for each of the additional nonresident districts they wish to apply to. [See Wis. Stat. § 118.51(3)(a)1d. and Wis. Admin. Code § PI 36.06(1)(b)].

 If you have any questions, please contact us at 888-245-2732, option 2 or openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov.

 Public School Open Enrollment

Parental Education Options

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

201 W Washington Ave | Madison, WI | 53703

(888) 245-2732, option 2 |   dpi.wi.gov/oe