Military Family Open Enrollment In Public Schools

The act requires a school district, district charter school, and institute charter school (public school) to accept the school liaison address for the military installation for purposes of demonstrating residency for inbound active duty military members (inbound military member) participating in open enrollment. Further, the act requires a public school that enrolls the child of an inbound military member through open enrollment to grant guaranteed automatic matriculation, as specified in the act, in the same manner guaranteed automatic matriculation is provided to resident students, and shall grant priority preference for younger siblings of the child for enrolling in subsequent school years.

The act defines "inbound active duty military member" as an active duty military member who receives new orders, or a command letter issued in lieu of orders, for a permanent change of station to a department of defense military installation in Colorado.

The act requires a public school to allow an inbound military member to submit applications for enrollment or open enrollment by electronic means and to register a child remotely, without requiring the child, parent, legal guardian, or another person to appear physically within the state for registration. If required, the inbound military member must also be allowed to provide proof of residency and other records within 10 days after the child's attendance in public school. Further, a public school shall allow the child of an inbound military member the same opportunity to request school assignments, register for courses, or apply for the same courses offered to students who are already present in the state.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)