Handbook - School Admissions

Age

To be eligible for admission, a child must be five years old on or before September 1 of that school term. A child entering first grade must be six years of age on or before September 1 of that school term. Based upon an assessment of a child’s readiness to attend school, the District may permit him or her to attend school prior to these dates. A child will also be allowed to attend first grade based upon an assessment of his or her readiness if he or she attended a non-public preschool, continued his or her education at that school through kindergarten, was taught in kindergarten by an appropriately licensed teacher, and will be six years old on or before December 31. A child with exceptional needs who qualifies for special education services is eligible for admission at three years of age. Early entrance to kindergarten or first grade may also be available through Board policy 6:135, Accelerated Placement Program.

Admission Procedure

All students must register for school each year on the dates and at the place designated by the Superintendent. Parents/guardians of students enrolling in the District for the first time must present:

1. A certified copy of the student’s birth certificate. If a birth certificate is not presented, the Superintendent or designee shall notify in writing the person enrolling the student that within 30 days he or she must provide a certified copy of the student’s birth certificate. A student will be enrolled without a birth certificate. 

2. Proof of residence, as required by Board policy 7:60, Residence.

3. Proof of disease immunization or detection and the required physical examination, as required by State law and Board policy 7:100, Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students.

Homeless Children

Any homeless child shall be immediately admitted, even if the child or child’s parent/guardian is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment. Board policy 6:140, Education of Homeless Children, and its implementing administrative procedure, govern the enrollment of homeless children.

Foster Care Students

The Superintendent will appoint at least one employee to act as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the Ill. Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) when enrolling in or changing schools. The District’s liaison ensures that DCFS’ Office of Education and Transition Services receives all written notices and records pertaining to students in the legal custody of DCFS as required by State law.

Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools

A student may transfer into or out of the District according to State law and procedures developed by the Superintendent or designee. A student seeking to transfer into the District must serve the entire term of any suspension or expulsion, imposed for any reason by any public or private school, in this or any other state, before being admitted into the School District.

Foreign Exchange Students 

The District accepts foreign exchange students with a J-1 visa and who reside within the District as participants in an exchange program sponsored by organizations screened by administration. Exchange students on a J-1 visa are not required to pay tuition. Privately sponsored exchange students on an F-1 visa may be enrolled if an adult resident of the District has temporary guardianship, and the student lives in the home of that guardian. Exchange students on an F-1 visa are required to pay tuition at the established District rate. F-1 visa student admission is limited to high schools, and attendance may not exceed 12 months. The Board may limit the number of exchange students admitted in any given year. Exchange students must comply with District immunization requirements. Once admitted, exchange students become subject to all District policies and regulations governing students.

Re-enrollment 

Re-enrollment shall be denied to any individual 19 years of age or above who has dropped out of school and who could not earn sufficient credits during the normal school year(s) to graduate before his or her 21st birthday. 

7:50

School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools

7:50-AP

Administrative Procedure - School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools

7:60
Residence

7:60-AP1
Challenging a Student's Residence Status

7:60-AP2
Establishing Student Residency

7:60-AP2, E1
Letter of Residence from Landlord in Lieu of Lease

7:60-AP2, E2
Letter of Residence to be Used When the Person Seeking to Enroll a Student is Living with a District Resident

7:60-AP2, E3
Evidence of Non-Parent's Custody, Control and Responsibility of a Student