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How do I register a child for school? Parents often have numerous questions about registering a child to enroll in the public school system. Everyone's situation may differ. Below, we provide answers to some of the most basic questions. You will also find below answers about guardianship, attending school if you don't have a permanent residence, and entering public school from a non-traditional or non-public setting. 1. How old does my child have to be to attend school?
Under state law, a child must be 5 years old by September 30 to enter Kintergarten. To enroll in Pre-Kindergarten children must be 4 years old by September 30. 2. How do I know which school my child will attend? If you have Internet access, you may visit our Zoning Information page to locate what school your child will be attending via our street directory. Also, the Child Welfare & Attendance Department at LPSS can identify your child's school. Please contact the office at 337-521-7089. You must provide your address and then you will be given the name and address of the school your child will be attending. 3. Where do I go to enroll my child in the school?
You may go to the school at any time during regular hours to enroll your child.
4. What sort of paperwork will I need to enroll my child?
You should bring the following items to the school:
5. How do I register my child if I live with someone else and the utility bill is not in my name?
If a family is living in someone else's residence, the parent/guardian needs the following three items to register:
- a utility bill of the owner of the home,
- a notarized statement saying that the family lives at the residence listed on the utility bill; the statement must be signed by the person listed on the utility bill, and
- a disconnect receipt from the parent/guardian's previous address OR a state or federal document validating the address (i.e. social security check, tax document, etc.)
6. Where can I get birth records if I don't have a birth certificate?
Certified birth cards or certified copies of a birth certificate for students born in Louisiana may be obtained in the following ways:
- You may bring a completed application form, photo identification and fees ($9 for a birth card and $15 for a birth certificate copy) to the Lafayette Parish Health Unit at 220 W. Willow, Building A, Lafayette, LA 70501, or
- You may request a copy online at www.vitalcheck.com, or
- You may mail a completed Request Form, copy of you photo ID and fees to the Louisiana Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160.
7. How do I find a proof of legal guardianship?
If you are registering a child who is not your biological or adopted child, you must have full legal guardianship of the child in order to register them for school. Legal guardianship must be obtained through a certified court order by a state court or a state or federal agency. Custody by Mandate or Provisional Custody signed by a Notary Public will not be accepted as proof of guardianship/custody. 8. What do families do if they live in a shelter, motel or sub-standard housing?
The Lafayette Parish School System has a Homeless Children and Youth Education Program that provides services to students who are:
Often students who are homeless lack the documentation required to register for school. The Homeless Education Program in Lafayette Parish can assist families with the enrollment process. If your child is living in one of the above situations, please contact the Homeless Program at 233-0572. 9. How do students register if they have been home-schooled in the past?
All students entering or er-entering the district from a home-schooling program should present themselves to the LPSS Student Services Department for screening and placement prior to registration. Parents should bring all educational records from the home-schooling program and their copy of the official state form for home-schooling. 10. If students have attended an accredited private or parochial school, how to they enroll in LPSS?
All students entering from accredited private or parochial schools may register at their home zone school. If additional testing is required for admission, the school will direct you to the LPSS Student Services Department. The Louisiana High Stakes Testing Policy and local Pupil Progression Plan will govern placement of students. 11. How do students enroll who have attended non-accredited private or parochial schools?
All students entering the district from a non-accredited private or parochial should present themselves to the LPSS Student Services Department for screening and placement prior to registration. Parents should bring all educational records from the previous school the student attended. 12. If students are entering LPSS from an alternative school, what do they need to do?
Students entering the Lafayette Parish School System from an alternative school in another district or state must present themselves to the LPSS Child Welfare and Attendance Office for registration. Parents must bring the following documents:
- a withdrawal from the alternative school they were attending,
- the student's disciplinary records, and
- a letter from the school district they were attending stating the reason for and term of the student's expulsion.
Students who were expelled from a public or private school within the state of Louisiana must appeal to the school board for entry into the Lafayette Parish School System.
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