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Beloit board approves open-enrollment seat allocations; elementary and therapy seats available, secondary closed
Summary
The Board of Education approved annual open-enrollment space determinations for 2025–26 that leave general-education open enrollment unlimited but allocate zero special-education seats at the middle- and high-school levels while opening limited elementary and therapy seats.
The Beloit School District Board of Education on Jan. 14 approved the district’s annual open-enrollment space determination for the 2025–26 school year, keeping general-education open enrollment unlimited while allocating special-education seats by building and service type.
Pupil services director Missy Beavers and Special Education Director Eric Weier presented the district’s method for calculating special-education capacity. The district multiplies site staffing (FTE) by an established caseload criterion — a workload model recommended in Wisconsin — then subtracts projected enrollment to determine available seats.
Weier said the district’s caseload criteria use recommended workload figures by level (elementary, middle, high school) and different statutory caps for therapy services: speech-language, occupational and physical therapy. The presentation showed Beloit’s projected capacity is at or above staff-based capacity for middle and high schools, so the district is not opening special-education enrollment seats at grades 6–12 for 2025–26; elementary grades (4K–5) show available seats.
Specifically, the committee report proposed: unlimited general-education open-enrollment seats; grades 9–12: 0 special-education seats; grades 6–8: 0 seats; grades 4K–5: 15 seats; physical therapy: 37 seats; occupational therapy: 30 seats; speech and language: 28 seats. Committee members asked clarifying questions about how capacity is calculated and how related services are allocated. Weier explained projected enrollment includes current students rolling over plus typical new entrants.
The item advanced from the Teaching, Learning, Equity & Pupil Services Committee and was placed on the board consent agenda. At the regular board meeting later the same evening, the board approved the open-enrollment determinations unanimously. The motion at the board was moved by Greg Schneider and seconded by Megan Miller; the board recorded the motion as carried without opposition.
