CLEAN COPY Board Policy JBC School Admissions

CLEAN COPY OF JBC: School Admissions

School Admissions

 I.   SCHOOL ADMISSION BASED ON RESIDENCY

      Students who reside in the DeKalb County School District are eligible to attend a
      District school.

      For purposes of this Policy, a student’s residence is:

       1.    The residence of the student’s parent, which is either:

               a.   The residence of both parents, if the parents are married;

               b.   The residence of the parent having lawful physical custody, if the
                    parents are divorced or separated; or

               c.   The mother, if the student was born out of wedlock and the father has
                    not been granted custodial rights;

       2.    The residence of the student’s legal guardian or any person who has been
             granted lawful physical custody of the student, including:


               a.   A guardian assigned by a court; or

               b.   A foster parent assigned by the Georgia Department of Human
                    Resources Division of Family and Children’s Services;

       3.    The residence of the student’s grandparent, if the grandparent has a properly
             executed power of attorney for the care of the child pursuant to O.C.G.A. §
             19-9-120 et seq.;

       4.    The residence of the student’s custodial parent, noncustodial parent, or other
             person standing in loco parentis if the student is a transitioning military child;

       5.    The residence determined in accordance with Policy JBC(1) if the student is a
             homeless child or youth, as defined by federal law;

       6.    The residence as determined in accordance with Policy JQKA if the student is
             a foreign student.
In disputes regarding whether a student’s residence is located in the DeKalb County School
District, the location of the dwelling on the official tax records and maps of DeKalb County
will be the deciding factor. In cases where the dwelling or parcel of land containing the
dwelling is located on the district line, 51 percent of the square footage of the dwelling must
be located in the DeKalb County School District.

The parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of a student shall notify the
student’s school immediately if any change in residence occurs.

The Superintendent or designee shall remove from the District any student who is not
entitled by law or Board policy to attend school in the District. If a student is entitled by law
or Board policy to attend school in the District but not in the particular District school in
which the student is enrolled, the Superintendent or designee shall transfer the student to
the appropriate District school.

 II.   DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR ENROLLMENT

       The following documentation shall be required for all children seeking to enroll in a
       school in the District.

         A.    Proof of Residency

               Persons registering a student on the basis of the student’s residency in the
               District shall submit appropriate proof of residency upon initial enrollment in
               the District, upon entry into sixth and ninth grades, upon transfer to another
               District school, and as may be required by school administration. A list of the
               documents that may serve as proof of residency will be published on the
               District’s website.

               All questionable residency situations shall be referred to the appropriate
               District staff for further investigation. If proof of residency is delayed, the
               student will be provisionally enrolled pursuant to Section IV of this Policy.

         B.    Proof of Custody or Guardianship

               If the person registering the student is not the student’s parent, or if questions
               arise concerning the custody of the student, a copy of the court order or other
               document showing custody or guardianship must be presented to school
               officials and filed in the student’s permanent record.

         C.    Evidence of Date of Birth

               A birth certificate or other acceptable evidence showing the child’s date of
               birth is required for each child seeking to enroll in a District school. In the
     absence of a birth certificate, other acceptable evidence is limited to the
     following:

      1.    A military ID;

      2.    A valid driver’s license;

      3.    A passport;

      4.    An adoption record;

      5.    A religious record signed by an authorized religious official;

      6.    An official school transcript; or

      7.    An affidavit of age sworn to by the parent, guardian, grandparent, or
            other person, accompanied by a certificate of age signed by a
            practicing physician, which certificate states that the physician has
            examined the child and believes that the age as stated in the affidavit is
            substantially correct.

D.   Immunization

     A student will not be admitted to a District school unless the student has
     complied with the immunization requirements set forth in state law and in the
     Rules and Regulations of the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

     A person registering a student for enrollment in the District must provide to
     school officials a certificate from a physician licensed under the laws of
     Georgia or a local public health department confirming that the child has been
     immunized before the child can be admitted to school. This certificate must
     be on a form provided by the Department of Human Resources.

     This requirement may be waived for medical or religious reasons as allowed by
     state law, provided that appropriate documentation of the basis is furnished to
     school officials.

E.   Nutritional Screening and Eye, Ear, and Dental Examinations

     All students seeking to register for enrollment in the District shall provide
     certification of nutritional screening and eye, ear, and dental examinations as
     required by state law.
F.   Social Security Number

     A person seeking to register a student for enrollment in the District shall
     provide to school officials an official copy of the student’s social security
     number or a waiver objecting to furnishing the social security number. No
     student shall be denied enrollment for declining to furnish or apply for a social
     security number. A student’s social security number shall be considered a
     confidential student record.


     Prior to the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee
     shall publish on the District website, or elsewhere as appropriate, public notice
     of the information required of students enrolling in the District. Such public
     notice shall be provided in English and any other language then prevalent in the
     District and shall include the statement, “No student shall be denied enrollment
     in the DeKalb County School District for declining to provide a Social Security
     number or for declining to apply for such a number.”

     At the time of initial enrollment of a student, or at the beginning of a school
     year for a student already enrolled but who has not previously provided a
     Social Security number, the school shall provide a notice to the parent,
     guardian, or other person enrolling the student that is in a language appropriate
     for that individual and contains the following information:

        1.   The student’s Social Security number is requested;

        2.   Providing the Social Security number is voluntary;

        3.   The purpose for which the Social Security number will be used; and

        4. The District is authorized to request the provision of the student’s
           Social Security number under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-150(d)

             A student applying for a Social Security number shall be provided with a
             temporary alternate number, and a student who does not provide or
             apply for a Social Security number shall be provided with a permanent
             alternate number

G.   L;Additional Documentation

     The District may require documentation in addition to that specified in this
     Policy. A list of required documentation will be published on the District’s
     website prior to the beginning of each school year.
III.   STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM NON-DISTRICT SCHOOLS

       A student transferring from a non-District school to a District school shall present a
       registration record and a certified transcript of the academic record from the school
       previously attended. A transferring student applying for admission to seventh grade
       or higher shall also present a certified copy of his or her disciplinary record from the
       school previously attended or may be admitted on a conditional basis if he or she and
       his or her parent or legal guardian executes a document providing the name and
       address of the school last attended and authorizing the release of all academic and
       disciplinary records to the school administration.

       A student who has been suspended or expelled from a non-District school may be
       refused enrollment in the District during the period of such suspension or expulsion,
       upon receipt by the District of a certified copy of the disciplinary order imposing
       suspension or expulsion.

IV.    IMMIGRATION AND VISA STATUS

       The District is not responsible for making determinations regarding immigration and
       visa status. In accordance with controlling case law, the District shall enroll all
       immigrant students who meet the District’s age, residency, and other enrollment
       requirements and shall not inquire into the student’s or the family’s legal status.

V.     PROVISIONAL ENROLLMENT

       Children may be enrolled on a provisional basis for 30 calendar days while awaiting
       evidence of residence, age, immunization, or other requirements. The provisional
       enrollment period may be extended for extenuating circumstances.