Enrollment

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Welcoming Families

The first interaction with newcomer families sets the tone for their entire school experience. Parents often arrive with questions, stress, and limited familiarity with U.S. school systems, which can feel confusing and overwhelming at first.

Staff who are trained to be culturally responsive, patient, and supportive can make a lasting difference by creating a positive, welcoming first impression.

Offering clear orientation, accessible information in families’ home languages, and a genuine effort to make school processes understandable helps build trust and ensures families feel respected, included, and ready to engage.

Establishing Residency & Age

Residency Documents

School districts are required to accept reasonable evidence of residency in the district, which may include:

  1. Property tax payment receipts

  2. Rental property contract, lease, or payment receipts

  3. Utility service contract, statements, or payment receipts

  4. Pay stubs

  5. Voter registration

  6. Correspondence from a government agency

  7. Declaration of residency executed by the parent or legal guardian of the student. 

School districts also have the discretion to accept other types of documentation in lieu of the above items.  There is an exception to residency documentation requirements if a child is “homeless” under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Age Verification Documents

School districts may accept the following documents to establish student age:

  1. Certified copy of birth record

  2. Statement by the local registrar or county recorder certifying the date of birth

  3. Baptism certificate

  4. Passport

  5. An affidavit of the parent, guardian, or custodian, or any other appropriate means of proving the child’s age

School districts in California may not ask questions about immigration status - or that may reveal a child’s immigration status - during enrollment for any reason. Schools may not solicit Social Security numbers.

Schools must enroll students up to the age of 18, and may receive funding for students up through age 21 for diploma completion.

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Caregiver Affidavit

For unaccompanied immigrant youth and any student living with a non-parent caregivers, California law allows enrollment using a Caregiver Authorization Affidavit. Schools must accept a properly completed affidavit as sufficient documentation for enrollment and services, ensuring that students can access education without unnecessary delay.

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Home Language Survey

School districts must have procedures in place to accurately and timely identify English learner (EL) students in need of language assistance services. To meet this requirement, schools use a questionnaire called the Home Language Survey (HLS) at the time of enrollment to gather information about a student’s language background. 

An HLS must be completed for every new student who enrolls for the first time into a California public school regardless of the language(s) that are spoken at home. The responses to the HLS assist the school in determining if a student's English proficiency should be assessed for potential support. Students are referred for an English language proficiency (ELP) assessment if a language other than English is indicated on any of the first three questions on the HLS.

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Transcript Evaluation

Evaluating transcripts from other countries ensures newcomer students receive proper credit and placement in California schools. Schools should collect available transcripts, grade reports, and/or other documentation in the student’s home language. Trained staff should review them, using translation services and knowledge of international grading to determine credit and identify gaps. When records are incomplete, districts can rely on assessments, interviews, and portfolios. Documenting decisions and sharing them with families in their home language builds transparency and supports student success.