Next School Year 2025-2026 Registration for Kindergarten through Grade 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Required Enrollment Documentation

Except when a child is homeless or in foster care, in which case the child must be immediately enrolled, whenever a child of school age is presented for enrollment by:

• a parent(s) or guardian(s),
• school district resident, or
• any other person having charge or care of the child,

The Pennridge School District requires that the following information be documented before enrolling the child and allowing the child to attend school:

1. Proof of the child's age
Any one of the following constitutes acceptable documentation:

1. birth certificate;
2. notarized copy of birth certificate;
3. baptismal certificate;
4. copy of the record of baptism – notarized or duly certified and showing the date of birth;
5. notarized statement from the parents or another relative indicating the date of birth;
6. a valid passport;
7. a prior school record indicating the date of birth.

This list is non-exhaustive and schools should be flexible in consideration of the child’s circumstances. 

2. Immunizations required by law
Any one of the following constitutes acceptable documentation:

1. either the child’s immunization record,
2. a written statement from the former school district or from a medical office that the required immunizations have been administered, or that a required series is in progress,
3. or verbal assurances from the former school district or a medical office that the required immunizations have been completed, with records to follow.

There are certain exceptions to this requirement for students who have medical/religious exemptions, are homeless, who are moving or transferring into a school in the commonwealth, or who are in foster care and are not able to provide immunization records at the time of enrollment. Please consult the School Immunization Requirements BEC for more detailed information. 

3. Proof of residency
Any one of the following constitutes acceptable documentation:

1. a deed,
2. a lease,
3. current utility bill,
4. current credit card bill,
5. property tax bill,
6. vehicle registration,
7. driver’s license,
8. Department of Transportation identification card; or a
9. A piece of mail sent by the federal or state government such as benefits information, voter registration, or tax documents

Please note: The district may require that more than one form of residency confirmation be provided. However, this should not delay enrollment and the Pennridge School District will be flexible in verifying residency and will consider what information is reasonable in light of the family’s situation. Students experiencing homelessness are not required to prove residency to enroll in school. These students will be enrolled without delay..

4. Parent Registration Statement
A sworn statement (See Attachment A (PDF)) attesting to (1) whether the student has been or is suspended or expelled for offenses involving drugs, alcohol, weapons, infliction of injury or violence on school property (see 24 P.S. § 13-1304-A) and (2) whether the student has been or is expelled under 24 P.S. § 13-1318.1 for being convicted or adjudicated delinquent of committing a sexual assault upon another student enrolled in the same school entity must be provided for a student to be admitted to any school entity.

A school may not deny or delay a child’s school enrollment based on the information contained in a disciplinary record or sworn statement. However, if a student is currently expelled for a weapons offense, the school can provide the student with alternative education services during the period of expulsion (24 P.S. § 13-1317.2(e.1)). If a student is or was expelled for an act or offense involving a sexual assault conviction or adjudication of delinquency, the school can provide the student with alternative education services. (24 P.S. § 13-1318.1(f)).

If the disciplinary record or sworn statement indicates the student has been expelled from a school in which he was previously enrolled, for reasons other than a weapons offense, it is recommended the school review the student's prior performance and school record to determine the services and supports to be provided upon enrollment.

5. Home Language Survey
All students seeking first time enrollment in a school shall be given a home language survey in accordance with requirements of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Enrollment of the student may not be delayed in order to administer the Home Language Survey. A copy of the Home Language Survey/Attachment B (PDF) is provided at this website.

Documents which may be requested but not as a condition of enrollment

Items which may be requested

School districts and charter schools often seek to obtain information from families in addition to the five mandatory items discussed above. Although we may ask for any of this information, it will not be required as a condition of enrolling or admitting a child and they may not delay a child’s enrollment or attendance or mark a child absent until these documents are provided.

Among the documents that a school district or charter school may request, but not require as a condition of enrollment, are:

1. picture identification;
2. health or mental health history;
3. physical or dental examination records;
4. academic records;
5. attendance records;
6. Individualized Education Program and other special education records;
7. documentation of physical examination; and
8. documentation from other sources (Registration form, Student Education Records, Disciplinary Records).

• Please note, according to Pennridge School District’s Policy 200, Enrollment of Students. (April 2024), states:

  • School age shall be defined as the period from the earliest admission age for the district's kindergarten program until graduation from high school or the end of the school term in which a student reaches the age of twenty-one (21) years, whichever occurs first.

  • District of residence shall be defined as the school district in which a student's parents/guardians reside.

  • School age resident students and eligible nonresident students shall be entitled to attend district schools.

  • The district shall not inquire about the immigration status of a student as part of the enrollment process.

    • PA Code § 11.11. Entitlement of resident children to attend public schools.

       (a)  Entitlement.

         (1)  A school age child is entitled to attend the public schools of the child’s district of residence. A child’s district of residence is that in which the parents or the guardian resides. When the parents reside in different school districts due to separation, divorce or other reason, the child may attend school in the district of residence of the parent with whom the child lives for a majority of the time, unless a court order or court approved custody agreement specifies otherwise. If the parents have joint custody and time is evenly divided, the parents may choose which of the two school districts the child will enroll for the school year. If the child is an emancipated minor, the resident school district is the one in which the child is then living. For purposes of this section, an emancipated minor is a person under 21 years of age who has chosen to establish a domicile apart from the continued control and support of parents or guardians. A minor living with a spouse is deemed emancipated.

         (2)  Transportation for students must be provided consistent with the policy of the school district that the students are attending.

       (b)  Enrollment. A school district or charter school shall normally enroll a child the next business day, but no later than 5 business days of application. The school district or charter school has no obligation to enroll a child until the parent, guardian or other person having control or charge of the student making the application has supplied proof of the child’s age, residence, and immunizations as required by law. School districts and charter schools receiving requests for educational records from another school district or charter school shall forward the records within 10 business days of receipt of the request.

       (c)  Nonresident children. The requirement of subsection (b) applies equally to nonresident children who are children living in facilities or institutions as defined in §  11.18 (relating to nonresident child living in facilities or institutions), or foster homes, or with a district resident who is supporting the child without personal compensation as defined in §  11.19 (relating to nonresident child living with a district resident), provided that the person making the application has supplied the documentation required by law.

       (d)  Immigration status. A child’s right to be admitted to school may not be conditioned on the child’s immigration status. A school may not inquire regarding the immigration status of a student as part of the admission process. This provision does not relieve a student who has obtained an F-1 visa from the student’s obligation to pay tuition under Federal law.

       (e)  Home language survey. A school entity shall administer a home language survey to all students seeking first time enrollment in its schools in accordance with requirements of the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

       

      Authority

       

         The provisions of this §  11.11 amended under section 1317(a) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. §  367(a)) (Repealed); and sections 1327, 1330, 1372, 1511 and 2603-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § §  13-1327, 13-1330, 13-1372, 15-1511 and 26-2603-B).

       

      Source

       

         The provisions of this §  11.11 amended December 19, 1986, effective December 20, 1986, 16 Pa.B. 4874; amended October 22, 2004, effective October 23, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 5798. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (244452) and (271457).

       

      Notes of Decisions

       

         Out-of-State Schools

         Order of State Board of Education disclaiming authority to decide upon continuance of school board’s practice of utilizing out-of-state schools to educate some of district’s children is not a regulation and does not give school district sole discretion over the assignment of students to attend out-of-state schools. Wayne Highlands School v. Department of Education, 488 A.2d 1172 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1985).

       

      Cross References

       

         This section cited in 22 Pa. Code §  11.18 (relating to nonresident children living in facilities or institutions); and 22 Pa. Code §  11.19 (relating to nonresident child living with a district resident).