HB223 Summary

• Requires reorganized school districts, vocational-technical school districts, and charter schools to use a standardized online application system approved by the Department of Education for school choice enrollment.

• Establishes uniform application deadlines (first Monday in November through second Wednesday in January) and processes for all public school types, with charter schools able to accept applications until the first day of school for kindergarten programs.

• Aligns sibling enrollment preferences across all school types and changes the charter school enrollment certification deadline from April 1 to May 1 to allow parents more time for informed decision-making.

• Clarifies that schools may only request additional information from applicants if directly related to identified enrollment preferences, and standardizes the ranked waitlist expiration date to September 1 of the school year for which students applied.

• Requires sending and receiving schools to enter into agreements for pro-rated student funding based on Department of Education formulas in cases of mid-year enrollment terminations.