Participation of Rural Students with Disabilities and Rural Gifted Students in Open Enrollment

Abstract

Minnesota has an open enrollment program which allows students the opportunity to attend a school in any school district of their choice. The authors examined the survey responses on open enrollment of 82 parents of rural students with disabilities and rural students who are gifted. The purpose of the data analysis was to focus on transferring students' demographic characteristics, sources of information about open enrollment, and reasons for transfer. The majority of students with disabilities using open enrollment have been categorized as having a learning disability. Most of these open enrollment students and their parents gather information about the availability of open enrollment from the media. The most important reason parents of rural children with special needs apply for open enrollment is because programs available in alternative districts are thought to be better able to meet the educational requirements of these children.