Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About School

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About School Admissions Office Managers Academy November 4, 2010

Today’s Objectives • To gain a deeper understanding of rules, guidelines and procedures as they relate to admissions • To learn more about special enrollment situations such as Migrant, English Language Learners and Homeless • To understand the new race and ethnicity data questionnaire and your role as in Observer Identification • To understand your role in custody issues as they relate to enrollment

Who Can You Enroll? • Any students who are over five and younger than 21 years of age on September 1 of the current school year. We request many documents during enrollment but the only paperwork required for a student to begin attending class is proof of: • Age • Residency • Required Immunizations School Board Policy FD (Legal), FD (Regulation)

Proof of Age Acceptable Documentation: • Birth Certificate • Driver’s License • Passport • School ID card, Records or Report Card • Military ID • Hospital Birth Record • Adoption Records • Church Baptismal Record, or • Any other legal document that establishes identity Student Attendance Accounting Handbook 2010 -11 Pg. 48

If Age Requirement Is Met You must enroll if the student: • And either parent reside in the district, • Does not reside in the district but has a parent who does and that parent is a joint or the sole managing conservator or possessory conservator of the student, • The student’s guardian or other person having lawful control of the person under a court order reside within the district, • Has established a separate residence under the TEC § 25. 001, • Is homeless, • Is a foreign exchange student placed with a family that resides in the district by nationally recognized foreign exchange program, • Resides in the district and either is 18 years old or older or has had the disabilities of minority removed; or • Does not reside in the district but has a grandparent who does and who provides a substantial amount of after-school care for the student. Student Attendance Accounting Handbook Pg 50

A 25 Year Old Student? ? State law states that districts may admit 21 -25 year olds to complete the requirements for a high school diploma. • Local district policy prohibits the enrollment of any student age 21 or over unless required by School Board Policy FD law. (Legal)and FD (Local)

Student or Parent Residence What is a bona fide residence? The domicile which is the student’s fixed, permanent and principal housing for legal reasons. Acceptable Documentation: • A recent utility bill (other than a phone bill) with parent/guardian’s name and street address, • Home or apartment lease agreement; or • An earnest money or purchase contract and a letter from a mortgage company indicating loan approval or proof from the home builder/realtor or cash payment verification FD (Regulations) Pg 1 and FD (Exhibit B)

ed g n a h c s a h d e r r o u t c a e l r is t g n e e L m s l l a x o r e n T e e a h T h t i w g C n i s r s e a l p C to tam A s s a l C a m fro r o n a e m e d s i m Scwartz & Eichelbaum P. C. Legal Training for Secretaries

Divorced Parents Did you know? Generally, if the student’s parents are divorced, the student can be enrolled in the district of either parent, regardless of where the student lives. But students cannot be enrolled in two districts at the same time. Scwartz & Eichelbaum P. C. Legal Training for Secretaries

Minor Living Apart • • Not living w/parent or legal guardian Established a separate residence in district Is not for extracurricular participation If within the preceding year – Had DAEP or Exclusion; or – Is on parole or conditional release Immediately contact your campus administrator, admission may be denied School Board Policy FD (Legal)

Power of Attorney • Adult resident living in the district must accept responsibility for the student in all school-related matters • A valid Power of Attorney must be signed by at least one parent and should be notarized (have forms available) • Valid for one year, revocable at will The absence of a parent, guardian, or other person with legal control of a child under a court order is not grounds for refusing admission to which the child is not grounds for refusing admission to which a child is entitled under TEC § 25. 001 FD(Regulations) FD (Exhibits E-F) TEA Letter (8 -17 -2010)

Immunizations • A student is required to be fully immunized against certain diseases in order to enroll in school • However a student may be provisionally admitted if the student has begun the immunizations and continues to received the necessary immunizations as rapidly as medically feasible. • A student who is not fully immunized and has not begun the required immunization may not attend school. TEA Letter dated /17/2010

Extras • • Homeless Cheat Sheet Home Language Survey Cheat Sheet Migrant Cheat Sheet Race and Ethnicity Questionnaire Requirements

Resources • • TEA Letter Dated August 17. 2010 Board Policy FD Legal, Local and Regulations Student Attendance Accounting Handbook Legal Issues for School Secretaries— www. edlaw. com $85. 00 School Board Policy FD (Legal)