Choice Enrollment

In Colorado, state law (C.R.S. 22-36-101  Public Schools of Choice) allows for children within Colorado to open enroll in any Colorado public school, even if they do not live in that school or school district's boundaries, as long as there is room available.

The Boulder Valley School District welcomes both students from outside our district and those who want to choose a school outside of their neighborhood school to participate in our Choice Enrollment process.

Selection in BVSD is based on a lottery process, not first-come first-served. 

Because Choice Enrollment is not guaranteed, district residents who choose Choice Enrollment may simultaneously pursue neighborhood school enrollment as a backup.

For more information, visit BVSD Board Policy, JECC-R - open enrollment procedures and information

• ​​​​​​Choice enrolled families of students attending a school other than their district designated household neighborhood school are responsible for the student's transportation.
• BVSDs open enrollment process does not inquire about a child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or disability status until after a child has been offered an open enrollment seat through the lottery and admitted through the completion of both the acceptance and registration steps of the process. Following this admissions step, the school of choice must review the student’s IEP to determine if the IEP can be implemented at the school of choice as a final stage of the process.

• If the school’s review indicates that the special education program at the school is at capacity, the school will inform the family of this capacity limit  and will offer to convene an IEP meeting.  If the transfer constitutes a significant change in placement, the school will convene an IEP Team to ensure that the receiving school or program is an appropriate placement for the student.

• If your child is already open enrolled, the approval is valid through the highest grade at that school.  You do NOT need to apply each year to remain attending unless your household address has changed and is now out of district.

Ready to move forward? We can't wait for you to join the Boulder Valley School District!

Choice Enrollment will open on November 1, 2025.

• Honor the strict deadline to accept or decline the seat offer. If a notification of acceptance is extended, parents/guardians who wish to accept the seat have 10 calendar days from the emailed notice of acceptance to:

  • Indicate their acceptance in the open enrollment online system

  • AND, register that student to the new school of choice --

  • Provide any requested supporting documents to the accepted school.

  • BVSDs open enrollment process does not inquire about a child’s IEP or disability status until after a child has been offered an open enrollment seat through the lottery and admitted through the completion of both the acceptance and enrollment steps of the process. Following this admissions step, the school of choice must review the student’s IEP to determine if the IEP can be implemented at the school of choice as a final stage of the process.

  • If the school’s review indicates that the special education program at the school is at capacity, the school will inform the family of this capacity limit  and will offer to convene an IEP meeting.  If the transfer constitutes a significant change in placement, the school will convene an IEP Team to ensure that the receiving school or program is an appropriate placement for the student.

  • Currently enrolled BVSD students will have information updated automatically  

• Unless the parent/guardian promptly accepts the offer and completes the registration, the student forfeits the seat awarded through the Open Enrollment process.
   

• It takes approximately 48 hours to process the registration. Once completed, your child's new school will typically reach out for next steps.