When schools are closed, attendance boundaries are changed. Ask about opening and closings. www.mccormacks.com
In some situations, districts with declining enrollments relax the enforcement of attendance policies. The Jones family lives in Town X but would like to send their children to schools in Town Y. A friend or relative lives in Town Y and agrees to provide an address. If the school district doesn’t check the address, the kids stay.
www.mccormacks.com
- Tax Misunderstandings. Some school districts levy taxes on new developments to pay for school construction. The new residents come to believe that their children will attend the new schools, which are built to modern standards and have high-tech wiring. But they may be assigned to the older schools in the district and the children in the older neighborhoods — whose parents were not taxed — may be assigned to the new schools.
- Mello-Roos. To fund school construction (and infrastructure costs), many developers use the Mello-Roos tax, which is levied only on residents of a specific project. This tax never shows up in old neighborhoods; only new, and even here its use is hodgepodge. Some projects in the same area will levy the tax, others won’t. This is a situation where moving a few blocks makes a difference of sometimes over $200 a month. www.mccormacks.com
- Looping. This practice, which shows up at some schools, keeps the kids with the same teacher for several years. Has its fans and its detractors.
- First Come, First Served. Some districts run fundamental or enriched schools with high or fairly high scores. Enrollment is first-come, first served. Some schools may use a lottery to decide admissions. www.mccormacks.com
You should always enroll your children as soon as possible. When disputes come up, the enrollment date may decide the matter.
- Delayed Choice. First you enroll in the neighborhood school and only then do you get the chance to transfer your child to another school.
- Small schools, big schools. Small schools are intimate but many will have only one class per grade level. If you want to transfer your child to a different class setting, the school might not be able to oblige. Big schools may be impersonal but they offer choices. www.mccormacks.com
- Divorce Perk. Mom lives in one district, dad in another. The child might be able to claim residency in either district.
Transfers
If you are dissatisfied with your child’s school, you can request a transfer. Many schools will grant them. State law requires school districts to consider transfers to ease parental hardship. This might include working in one town and living in another. You transfer your child to a school near your job. www.mccormacks.com
When in doubt, ask. School officials don’t want unhappy parents and students. If they can solve a problem without creating other problems, they will generally do just that. And they might have solutions that you did not think of.
Open Enrollment
At the beginning of the school year, some districts may offer a period of open enrollment. During this time, parents can apply for any school in the district. Once the deadline passes, transfers become harder to secure. www.mccormacks.com
Open-enrollment transfers are “space permitting.” The students in the attendance zones have first priority, then other students in the district, and last, students transferring from another district.
Leave-No-Child-Behind Transfers
Congress has passed a law that allows parents to transfer children out of low-scoring schools (as defined by the legislation) into other schools within the same district. www.mccormacks.com
Safety or Academic Transfers
Say your child is being bullied or just not thriving in one setting and clearly a transfer would help. One district will accept the transfer with the understanding that when it has the same problem, the other district will reciprocate. Ask.
Why Parents Shun Transfers
Often they raise havoc with your personal and work life. If your child attends the local school, you will usually make friends with other parents at that school. These parents will live in your neighborhood. www.mccormacks.com
If you are late getting home from work, they can pick up your child at day care or the school and look after him or her. If you’re sick, they can drive your child to school. If your child gets sick at school and has to be picked up right away, and you work 70 miles away, your neighbor might pitch in. You reciprocate for them in other ways.
If your child goes to school in another town, these arrangements may become difficult. www.mccormacks.com
As the children get older, they may want to join after-school sports or activities. Someone has to drive them to these activities and pick them up. The schools will not supply transportation. Again neighbors and school parents come in handy. If your child attends an “outside” school, you may have to look for sports and activities in that city — complications.
The children will make friends in the neighborhood and may come to resent not being able to go to school with them. www.mccormacks.com
You want to make friends with the other moms and dads. You want to get the gossip about what’s really happening at the school. It’s harder when you live outside of the district or the school zone.
American parents, for good reason, are very fond of their neighborhood schools. www.mccormacks.com
Why School Districts Dislike Transfers
California funds schools by attendance; the more students a school enrolls, the more money it gets. If school loses 10 students, it still has to stay open and often keep the same number of staff and teachers. But its income has been cut. If the same school adds 10 students, its expenses may increase a little but it “makes” money (that can be used salaries, activities, etc.)
Schools hate to lay off teachers and staff. Parents and communities hate to close schools. Often the school is providing playing fields and meeting rooms and hosting activities, even church services. www.mccormacks.com
Registration
Admission ages
To get into kindergarten, your child must turn five before Dec. 3 of the year he enters the grade. If your child’s birthday falls close to this date or if she is mature for her age, check with the school. There may be wiggle room.
When to Enroll
As soon as you can! For most children, enrollment will be simple and quick. But if space is short at the school, when you apply might make a difference. www.mccormacks.com
At enrollment, you will often be asked for:
- Child’s birth certificate (might be waived for high-school students).
- Home deed or loan-ownership papers with your name and address listed.
- Current tax bill with your name and address
- Utility bill, name and address.
- Rental agreement, name and address.
If a district or school gets many requests for transfers, it often will be a stickler for proof of residence.
- Immunization records
- Transcripts for older children. For students transferring into upper grades, the welcoming school will ask the former school for transcripts. www.mccormacks.com
For high-school students, you should have your own set of transcripts. This way the school can place the student right away into the appropriate classes (while the official transcripts are being sent).
Immunizations
You are required to show proof of immunization for polio, diphtheria, hepatitis B, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, rubella and mumps. If the kid is seven or older, you can skip mumps and whooping cough. Continuing students above the seventh grade must show proof of being immunized against hepatitis B.
If your religion prohibits all or certain immunizations, you will be asked to sign a waiver acknowledging this. www.mccormacks.com
Some Advice on Immunizations
Your doctor or HMO will almost always know what’s required. Just ask for the school immunization battery. Or ask the school secretary to recommend a local doctor.
Some groups sponsor immunization clinics. The school often will have the information on the clinics. www.mccormacks.com
Other Pertinent Information
- Student’s medical history. Allergies, medical problems that the school should be aware of, glasses, medications. If your child has a condition that requires special attention, you should tell the school. (Parents often are not aware of learning disabilities. Typically, these are picked up by the kindergarten or first-grade teacher, who will refer the student for tests.)
- If student was in a special or advanced program at previous school, this should be noted. It will help the school place your child in the right setting. www.mccormacks.com
- Names, addresses and phone numbers. Mom and dad or both. Where you can be reached. Or legal guardian. Friends or relatives to contact if you are not available.
- Ethnicity. Optional but it may help the school get extra funds.
- Language. What language is spoken at home and other questions to determine proficiency. www.mccormacks.com
- Other schooling. You might be asked if your child attended preschool or kindergarten or language immersion classes.
View the San Diego County School District Directory
Sample Procedures
The following forms secured from mid-sized districts and are indicative of what you will find at many districts: click to download PDF
Kindergarten Form
Health Form
Registration Form
