Students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school but who are not legal residents of the school district may be admitted into the school district at the discretion of the superintendent upon application and payment of tuition.  The tuition rate shall be the current per-pupil cost of the school district as computed by the board secretary and as authorized by the Iowa Department of Education.

Resident students whose families move from the school district after the start of a semester and who wish to complete the semester in the school district may be permitted to attend without the payment of tuition at the discretion of the superintendent and approval of the board.  Students who plan to open enroll to the nonresident district may complete the school year without approval of the superintendent or board.  These students, other than students in grades eleven and twelve, must have the recommendation of the principal. 

Students in grades eleven or twelve who are no longer residents of the school district, but were residents in the preceding school year, may continue to attend school until they graduate without the payment of tuition.  These students must have an adult, who resides in the school district, identified for purposes of administration.

Nonresident students who are eligible to attend an Iowa public school and who have evidence they will become legal residents of the school district prior to the third Friday in September may be allowed to attend without the payment of tuition.

Legal Reference:    Lakota Cons. Ind. School v. Buffalo Center-Rake Comm. School, 334 N.W.2d 704 (Iowa 1983).

                                 Mt. Hope School Dist. v. Hendrickson, 197 N.W. 47 (Iowa 1924).

                                 Oshel v. Creston Comm. School Dist., DPI Admin. Doc. 570 (1981).

                                Iowa Code §§ 257.6; 282.1, .2, .6, .7, .24 (1995).

 Cross Reference:    501  Student Attendance 

Approved 9/23/11     Reviewed  8/18/2021              Revised