New Ohio Law Allows Military Children to Enroll in Any District with Available Space
A new law taking effect in April will allow military families in Ohio to enroll their children in any public school of their choosing, regardless of district boundaries. However, a key restriction remains, districts can only accept students if they have the space.
Some of the region’s top-rated school districts, including Centerville, Beavercreek, and Oakwood, say they are already at or near capacity and may not be able to accept additional students.
With Wright-Patterson Air Force Base nearby, Dayton-area districts like Beavercreek, Mad River, and Fairborn serve some of the highest percentages of military students. These districts could see an influx of interest from military families looking to enroll their children in high-performing schools.
Beavercreek Schools, which has a 4.5-star rating on Ohio’s state report card, expects high demand but currently lacks space for students outside the district. The district is proposing a 4.9 mill, $265 million levy to fund new school buildings.
Centerville and Oakwood, both five-star districts, also do not allow open enrollment. Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, which previously allowed open enrollment, has stopped accepting new students due to anticipated capacity limits.
Mad River and Fairborn Anticipate Policy Adjustments
Mad River Local Schools, which already accepts more than 650 open-enrolled students annually, is evaluating how federal guidelines will impact its enrollment policies. Due to its high number of military and federally connected students, Mad River may adjust its board policy in response to the new law, with a final vote expected in April.
Fairborn Schools anticipate changes as well, with a focus on ensuring families are aware of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
As school districts work through the impact of the new law, military families will need to navigate varying enrollment policies and district capacity limits when choosing a school for their children.
