Requirements for starting grade school?

[flipicaneze 20]

My wife will be arriving with my 7 year old son.  He will be starting 1st grade. 

 

He is up to date with Philippines vaccine requirements.  We have his report card and certificate of moral character as well.  Anything other docs we may be missing? 

[powerpuff 6,697]

*** Thread moved from Bringing Family members to the US forum to Moving to the US & Your new life in America forum where similar non-immigration questions are discussed ***

[EmilyW 1,434]

Depending on the state, birth certificate (or passport), I included our health examination as well as vaccination certificate, also included pediatrician reports for my younger son as he has special needs. 

[JeanneAdil 6,504]

Chicago area 

 

Proof of age includes, but is not limited to, one of the documents listed below:

• Child’s original birth certificate
• Child’s baptismal record (not accepted for preschool enrollment)
• U.S. or Foreign Passport

Parent needs

Proof of current address includes, but is not limited to, any two of the documents listed below:

• Current utility bills
• Illinois driver’s license or State of Illinois identification card
• Deed
• Employee identification card
• MediPlan/Medicaid card
• Voter registration card
• Court documents
• Illinois Department of Public Aid card
• Stamped United States Post Office change of address form
• Illinois state aid check/social security check
• Other identification card issued by a federal or state agency or a foreign government consulate, such as a Matricula Consular

Edited June 18 by JeanneAdil

[top_secret 2,421]

I would imagine that every state and every school district has slight differences and your best bet would be to look up or go down and ask about your local requirements.

 

Vaccinations and proof of residency seem to be the main requirements.  Maybe proof of age or relationship at some places.

 

I our case, with a 9-year-old from the Philippines entering 3rd grade in Southern California, I enrolled her online on the school district’s web site about 3 weeks before they even got here.  I used her vaccine worksheet from her immigration medical at Saint Luke's and my driver’s license and utility bill as proof of residence within the school district. They didn't request a shred of proof of the child's identity.  Subsequently someone from the school called me and wanted more information about how well she spoke and understood English.  At the conclusion of that call, they said she is good to go and just drop her off at the school office whenever she got here and was actually ready to start. They basically took our word for it and went by age as far as grade placement.  Even though I told them her English was fine they still tested her with an English assessment exam and determined that yes, she did speak and understand English.

 

At least here the school district had little interest in her grade school records from the Philippines.  It was funny because after my stepdaughter was already here a couple of months, her former teacher from the Philippines tracked her mom down on Facebook and was very insistently requesting proof that her daughter was in fact enrolled and attending school in the US and she seemed to feel some strong obligation to forward her Philippine school record to the new school.  It seemed like her school in the Philippines had some very strong policy to track departing students and make sure they remained in school wherever they went to.

Edited June 18 by top_secret

[TBoneTX 45,288]

10 hours ago, top_secret said:

your best bet would be to look up or go down and ask about your local requirements

^^ This.

 

A call or visit to the school district's administrative office, or simply to the school-to-be, will yield the information that you need to know and provide.

[flipicaneze 20]

14 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Chicago area 

 

Proof of age includes, but is not limited to, one of the documents listed below:

• Child’s original birth certificate
• Child’s baptismal record (not accepted for preschool enrollment)
• U.S. or Foreign Passport

Parent needs

Proof of current address includes, but is not limited to, any two of the documents listed below:

• Current utility bills
• Illinois driver’s license or State of Illinois identification card
• Deed
• Employee identification card
• MediPlan/Medicaid card
• Voter registration card
• Court documents
• Illinois Department of Public Aid card
• Stamped United States Post Office change of address form
• Illinois state aid check/social security check
• Other identification card issued by a federal or state agency or a foreign government consulate, such as a Matricula Consular

Thanks, looks like I have those as well.