Board closes most special‑education open‑enrollment seats for 2026–27, approves one high‑school guided‑flight spot

The Milton School District board voted Jan. 26 to approve staff’s recommendation on open‑enrollment space for the 2026–27 school year, closing nearly all special‑education open‑enrollment seats and reserving one space at the high‑school guided flight/Soar program.

Staff explained that under board policy 5113 the district must designate open‑enrollment spaces for the coming year. Based on projected enrollment, new referrals and move‑ins, staff recommended that regular‑education open enrollment remain available at all grade levels but that special‑education programs be closed to most new open‑enrollment applicants because projected caseloads leave no space except for one opening in the high‑school guided flight/Soar program. Staff emphasized that each incoming IEP will still be reviewed individually and that a wait list will be established should staffing or enrollment projections change.

Board member John moved to approve the recommendation; Tracy seconded. When the board called for a voice vote, the motion carried.

Separately, staff gave an update on a planned guided‑flight expansion into Milton East: principals and staff met with families and ran early‑childhood playgroup programming there this week as part of transition planning. Staff said they are examining facility needs (potential sensory room and ADA restroom work) and that those adjustments can be accommodated within existing budgets.

The board’s action preserves continuity for currently enrolled special‑education open‑enrollment students (staff said currently attending special‑education open‑enrollment students are guaranteed a seat), while limiting new special‑education open‑enrollment to the single high‑school slot for 2026–27. The board will post open‑enrollment designations and begin processing individual IEP reviews and wait‑list placements as needed.