Georgia Legal Services Program® 1-800-498-9469 www.glsp.org 7/2013

Georgia Legal Services Program®

ALL CHILDREN LIVING IN GEORGIA HAVE THE RIGHT TO REGISTER TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL ON THE DAY AN

ADULT TRIES TO ENROLL THEM.

Do you have a child between 6 and 16?

If so, Georgia law requires the child to attend a public or

private school or a home study program.

• A parent may enroll a child.

• A third-party adult having physical custody of a child for a

legitimate purpose may enroll the child in school without obtaining

legal guardianship or custody over the child.

• The third-party adult may fill out a non-parental affidavit.

• Third-party adults with a power of attorney for care of the child, non-custodial parents or other persons having physical custody of a child of a transition military family are permitted to enroll or withdraw the child.

• Public schools shall accept immigrant/non-visa-holders who meet age and residency requirements and shall not inquire about their legal status.

• The adult is not required to provide their child’s Social Security number in order to complete the school enrollment/registration process.

• Rather than giving a Social Security number, the adult may fill out a Statement of Objection/Waiver form.

• Failure to turn in the Statement of objection/Waiver form cannot bar or delay a child’s enrollment in school. Nor can it result in the child’s withdrawal from school.

• Public schools must provide limited English proficient (LEP) parents with meaningful access to the same information provided to non-LEP parents. This includes interpretation and translation of all school policies and requirements, not just regarding enrollment and registration.

• Public school districts do not have to enroll children who were expelled from another school district.

DOCUMENTS GENERALLY REQUIRED FOR

ENROLLMENT IN GEORGIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Student’s Proof of Age Present one of the following:

• A certified copy of a birth certificate; or

• A federal, state, county, or school document with date of birth. Examples include a certified, hospital-issued birth record or birth certificate, military I.D.; valid

driver’s license, passport, adoption record, religious record, signed by an authorized religious official;

official school transcript; official immigration documentation, or affidavit of age sworn by parent/guardian

or other authorized personal accompanied by a certificate of age signed by a licensed, practicing physician

which states the physician has examined the child and believes the age, as stated in the affidavit, is

substantially correct.

● A birth certificate is not mandatory to enroll a child in school.1

Social Security Number Student social security number or signed waiver by the parent.

Proof of Authorized Person to Enroll The following persons are authorized to enroll students: The person authorized to enroll should present one of the following:

• Parent (natural or adoptive) Driver’s license

• Legal guardian State identification card

• Foster parent appointed by a state agency Passport

• Sponsor for approved international exchange Program Other official photo identification

• Third Party (aunt, uncle, cousin, family friend) Completed Non Parental Affidavit If 3rd

Party

Enrolling Student (Provided by School District)

Proof of Residency (Proof that family lives in the Required County Attendance Zone) Present one of the following (must include address) And One of the Following:

• Non-contingent sales contract Current gas bill

• Current lease/rental agreement Current water bill

• Most recent income tax return Current electric bill

• Current paycheck stub

• Current Medicaid Card

• Current residential property tax statement or bill

• Current warranty or quick claim deed

• Current home purchase agreement

• Current homeowner’s insurance policy

• Non Parental Affidavit of Residency (Provided by School

District)

If the student’s family is residing in the home or apartment of

another individual, the following is necessary for enrollment: 1. Notarized Non Parental Affidavit (provided by School District) including

- Signature of person with whom the family is living

- Apartment manager’s signature, if applicable.

2. Proof of residency for person with whom family is living

Immunization/Health Certificates • Valid certificate of immunization (Ga. Health Dept. Form #3231, revised March 2007 or later), completed by the health

department or your Georgia doctor. A medical exemption should be noted on Form #3231 with a current date of expiration.

You may request a form from your school for religious exemption.

• Vision, Health and Dental Screening (Ga. Health Dept. Form #3300), available from the health department or your

doctor/dentist. Letters from appropriate health care professionals and out-of-state certificates are acceptable, if completed

within the last 12 months and stapled to the state form.

Previous School Records

• Report cards or official school transcript

• Withdrawal form from previous school

• Discipline records for students enrolling in grades 7-12

Note: These same requirements apply to immigrants, and non-visa holding students. Immigrants and non-visa holding students

who meet the age and residence requirements must be accepted and admitted by the local school district and the local

school district cannot inquire into their legal status.

1See, O.C.G.A. §20-2-150; O.C.G.A. §20-2-690(b)(1); Georgia State Board of Education Rule 160-5-1.28(2)(d).

About Proof of Residency

• Documents presented for

residency verification must

include the same address as the

accompanying utility bill.

• The bill must have the name

and address of the enrolling

parent/guardian.

• A telephone bill is not

acceptable.

• A contingency sales contract is

not acceptable.

• Exception: A deed without an

address is acceptable if

accompanied by two utility

bills (excluding telephone bills)

with same address in

attendance zone.