Enrolling children in school may seem like a difficult task, but it’s easier than you think. The first thing you have to do is determine the school the student will attend, as that varies by the residential address. There’s a web page: My School Location / My School Location (duvalschools.org) that indicates the elementary, middle or high school that the child will attend according to the place of residence.
There are some documents that parents or guardians must present when enrolling children in schools in order to be able to maintain the safety and health of everyone, students, teachers and teaching staff in general. Copies of two forms of address verification must be submitted to the school registrar’s office.
These can be bills for: electricity, water, lease or rental agreement, telephone bills or government aid letters that the family receives such as SNAP or TANF. In the event that none of these documents exist in the name of the student’s parent or guardian, a notarized letter must be presented establishing the full address of the child’s residence.
If the student has just arrived in the United States, records showing the last grade that was completed and the grades must be submitted. Also, physical examination and immunization records that must be on the official state of Florida immunization form has to be presented.
The Department of Health can offer help and guidance to make this process less tedious by visiting their offices located at 5220 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32208, or by calling (904) 253-1420. Remember that a document that every parent or guardian will need for an infinity of procedures is the birth certificate, copy of the passport or evidence that validates the date, place of birth and identity of the child.
The Duval County Department of Education has staff who speak a vast variety of languages, including Spanish, so don’t stop seeking help because of the fear that you may have trouble communicating. If you need guidance in your language, you can call 904-390-2202.