Required Documents for Registration
Emanuel County Schools Registration Checklist
Who May Attend a Public School?
All children in the United States are entitled to equal access to a basic public elementary and secondary education regardless of their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, or the status of their parents/guardians. School districts that prohibit, discourage, or maintain policies that have the effect of prohibiting or discouraging children from enrolling in schools because they or their parents/guardians are not U.S. citizens or are undocumented may be in violation of Federal law.
Who May Register to Attend a Public School in Emanuel County?
Because Emanuel County Schools is a public school system for children who reside in Emanuel County, no individual who resides outside the boundaries of Emanuel County may be registered to attend its schools. An exception applies only to children of full-time employees of Emanuel County Schools. Children who live in Emanuel County may attend a school located within the school attendance zone in which they reside or a school within another attendance zone if a School Choice/School Transfer Form and request is granted in accordance with Emanuel County Board of Education policy.
Why is it important who registers a child for school?
The parent or guardian who registers a child for school will then control the child's enrollment, enrollment information, who has access to the child while at school, who can transport the child to and from school, and who can transfer the child to another school. Georgia Law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-780) states that no person shall make a change of custody of a minor child by removing the child from the premises of a private or public elementary or secondary school without the permission of the person who enrolled the child in the school, notwithstanding (in spite of the fact that/even if) the person seeking to obtain custody of the child from the school has a court order granting custody of the child to such person.
Which Public School in Emanuel County May A Child Attend?
A child must be registered at the school for which he/she is zoned to attend. School attendance zones are based on the full-time residency address of the child. To register a child for classes at one of Bulloch County Schools’ campuses, a parent, guardian, or other person authorized to register the student must provide the following documents:
1. Who can register a child for school: To register a child for school, you must live in the household with child, have primary charge and responsibility for the child, and be one of the following:
❏ A parent (natural or adoptive) Step-parents may not register a child for school.
❏ A legal guardian with a court-issued guardianship order
❏ A grandparent, step-grandparent, great-grandparent, or step great-grandparent with a properly executed Grandparent Power of Attorney which authorizes him/her to register the child
❏ Kinship caregiver with a properly executed Kinship Caregiver Affidavit
❏ A person with a properly executed military power of attorney which authorizes him/her to register a child
❏ A person with a properly executed Kinship Caregiver Affidavit which authorizes him/her to register a child. This requires approval from a school system social worker
❏ A foster parent with proof of student placement from the Department of Family & Children Services or a representative thereof
❏ A sponsor with an approved International Exchange Program enrolling a child with a J-1 visa
NOTE: If a legal parent / guardian resides in the household with the child, the parent / guardian must complete the registration. In accordance with Georgia Law, the authorized person who registers the child controls the child’s list of approved persons who can pick up the child and sets pick up restrictions. The registering parent must grant permission to the other parent.
2. Establish Parents’/Legal Guardians’ Identity: Parents and legal guardians must identify themselves by submitting one (1) of the following forms of picture identification. This is not required to be a government-issued identification.
❏ Driver’s license
❏ State identification card
❏ Passport
❏ Other official photo identification
3. Establish Residency – The person registering a child for school must produce one (1) of these acceptable proofs:
❏ A current, acceptable type of utility bill that is less than 60 days old and lists residence as the service address.
Note: Important information about Proof of Residence documents
- The bill must have the same name and address of the enrolling person.
- A telephone bill 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).
- If utilities included in rent, a statement from landlord may substitute for section 2 as well as a piece of mail addressed to parent/guardian.
AND (Section 2)
❏ Non-contingent sales contract
❏Current lease/rental agreement
❏Most recent income tax return
❏Current Paycheck stub
❏Current residential property tax statement or bill
❏Current warranty or quit claim deed
❏Current home purchase agreement
❏Current homeowner’s insurance policy
Residency Affidavit: If the student’s family is residing in the home or apartment of another individual, the following is necessary for enrollment:
❏ Notarized third-person Affidavit of Residency including:
a. Signature of person with who the family is living,
b. Signature of legal guardian of student, and
c. Apartment manager’s signature, if applicable.
❏ Two Forms of Proof of Residency for person with who family is living (See Proof of Residency section)
❏ One piece of business mail in the parent/legal guardian’s name with the address of the home or apartment in which the student is residing. (This must be provided within 30 days of enrollment.)
If a custodial parent is actively serving in the United States military, and the parent has a pending move to our area based on official military orders, please contact the school your child will attend for assistance.
4. Establish Child’s Age & Identity: The person registering the child must provide one (1) proof of child’s age and identity. The following are accepted as proof of age and identity:
❏ 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 ID; 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 person 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.
NOTE: For a fee, parents can order a birth certificate for a child born in Georgia through the state’s ROVER service. http://gta.georgia.gov/rover
5. Social Security Cards: According to Georgia Law 20-2-150d, an official copy of a child’s Social Security card is required for enrollment. However, no child may be denied enrollment for failing to provide his/her Social Security number. Any parent/legal guardian who objects to the incorporation of the Social Security number into the child’s school records may have the requirement waived by signing a statement objection to the requirement. Georgia DOES require a Social Security Number for a student applying for the HOPE scholarship.
6. Provide Proof of Immunization/Dental Care: Children who attend school must be up-to-date on all immunizations required for school entry.
❏ Valid certificate of immunization (Ga. Health Depart. Form #3231), or a notarized Affidavit of Religious Exemption (Department of Health Form #2208 – available from the local school) is required for enrollment. The certificate of immunization must be completed by the health department of your health care provider. A valid form #3231 must be marked with either “Date of Expiration” or as “Completed for School Attendance.” (A certificate marked with a “Date of Expiration” expires on the date indicated. A current certificate must be submitted within 30 days of expiration.) A medical exemption, if applicable, should be noted on Form #3231 with a current date of expiration.
❏ Vision, Hearing, Dental and Nutrition Screening (Ga. Health Dept. Form #3300, rev.2013), available from the health department or your doctor/dentist. Letters from appropriate healthcare professionals and out-of-state certificates are acceptable, if completed within the last 12 months and stapled to the state form.
If transferring within the state of Georgia, Emanuel County will request these documents from your child’s previous school. If a child has never been enrolled in a Georgia public school or the previous school does not have a record of the necessary forms, please make an appointment with the health department or your child’s physician prior to registration.
7. Additional Documents (if applicable)
❏ Custody / guardianship orders
❏ Any court orders that prevent or limit access of a parent to the child or the child’s educational records
❏ Any restraining orders or legal documents that limit the access of any individual to the child being registered.
A sponsor with an approved International Exchange Program enrolling a child with a J-1 visa
NOTE: If a legal parent / guardian resides in the household with the child, the parent / guardian must complete the registration. In accordance with Georgia Law, the authorized person who registers the child controls the child’s list of approved persons who can pick up the child and sets pick up restrictions. The registering parent must grant permission to the other parent.