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Board recommends closing most special‑education open‑enrollment slots; limited physical‑therapy and adapted‑PE openings remain
Summary
The board approved administration’s recommendation to keep general open enrollment open across the district but to close most special‑education open‑enrollment seats for 2025–26, leaving two physical‑therapy slots and 28 adapted‑physical‑education slots available.
The Appleton Area School District board voted to follow administration’s recommendation on open enrollment capacity for 2025–26: all neighborhood elementary, middle and high schools will remain open for general open enrollment, but the district will close most special‑education program seats to new open‑enrollment applicants to protect service capacity for currently enrolled students.
Amy Steiner, executive director of special education, explained the district’s process: the staff use a head count plus a weighted‑caseload formula that assigns higher weights to students who require more intensive services. "Based on that, you can see that we are making a recommendation that we be closed for our special education programs with the exception of physical therapy, in which case we have 2 slots available, as well as our special physical education. And we have 28 slots available at this time," Steiner said.
Board members asked how the district would allocate limited special‑education slots if demand exceeded supply. Steiner said the district uses a lottery when applications exceed available slots. She also explained that a standalone physical‑therapy placement is not an eligible IEP basis for open enrollment; related services generally accompany another impairment area.
The board discussed staff workload and the district’s efforts to manage rising special‑education demand. Steiner said the district is "continuing to look at funding sources for special education, continuing to look at ways to be more efficient, group kids more efficiently," and that staffing decisions are driven by students’ weighted support needs rather than simple head counts.
Board members emphasized continuity of services: students already open‑enrolled in the district and receiving special‑education services will remain enrolled; the closure applies to new open‑enrollment applicants. The board approved the recommendation by roll call vote.
Ending: Staff said they will return with any final counts and will implement the open‑enrollment guidance for the 2025–26 application window; families with questions were told to contact the district’s enrollment or special‑education offices.
