A survey was conducted of 82 rural parents of students with disabilities or giftedness on the topic of open enrollment. The survey examined demographic characteristics, sources of information, reasons for transfer, and changes in parental involvement with schools. Most of the rural students with special educational needs who chose to participate in open enrollment were Caucasian and required services for a learning disability or speech disability. Parents procurred information on open enrollment from the radio, television, and newspaper about as often as they received information from principals and teachers combined. The most important reason parents of rural children with special needs cited for applying for open enrollment was to better meet the children's educational requirements. Parents reported similar patterns of participation across activities at their child's former school and chosen school. Comments by parents of students with disabilities were most concerned with teacher effectiveness and transportation/school location issues; comments by parents of gifted students noted the curricular and extracurricular activities available. The study also observes that it is important to consider that the transfer of students with special needs into or out of a rural school district affects the financial welfare of that district and thus affects the quality of services provided. (Contains 11 references.) (JDD)