Public Schools - Open Enrollment - Policies and Funding

HB 26 allows students to attend public schools in counties other than their home county with parental/guardian consent, subject to specific rules. County school boards must create transparent application processes, prioritize local students and siblings, and track enrollment capacity, while ensuring compliance with anti-discrimination laws. The bill requires sending counties (where students live) to fund receiving counties (where schools are attended) based on per-student costs, with the state covering shortfalls if the sending county spends less. This directly affects students seeking cross-county schooling, county school boards, and the funding distribution between school districts.