REGISTRATION INFORMATION

WHO MAY REGISTER A STUDENT

Only a parent or court-appointed guardian may register a student in a Prince George’s County public school. If a student is residing with anyone else, they must either pay tuition to attend school, obtain legal court-appointed guardianship, or apply for a tuition waiver/kinship care arrangement. For additional information, call the Department of Pupil Accounting and School Boundaries at 301-952-6302.

A child may not be registered on a notarized statement giving guardianship.

PROOF OF RESIDENCE

Proof of residence shall be a prerequisite of admission to the public schools. Such proof must have the name and address of the person registering the student listed. It must also be provided to school personnel with any change in residence. The person who is registering the student in Prince George’s County Public Schools for the first time must complete an affidavit of disclosure, as required by law, verifying their legal residence.

Proof of residence may be established by any of the following documents: settlement papers, lease agreement, deed of property, or a tax assessment bill. The documents must be originals, not copies.  Private party leases must be notarized by the landlord or a notarized letter from the landlord must be provided with the original lease.

NOTE:  Additional items including recent mail may be required if there are concerns regarding the proof of residence, if the original term of the lease has expired, or if the ownership information is more than one year old.

SHARED HOUSING AFFIDAVIT

Some families will not have a house or apartment of their own, but will live with a relative or friend; therefore, a notarized Shared Housing Affidavit, signed by both parties detailing the living arrangement, is required. The following conditions also must be met: 1) All parties must sign the notarized Shared Housing Affidavit; 2) The relative or friend, with whom the parents reside, must show their proof of residence; 3) The parent registering the child must present official mail to the school within 30 days of enrollment. Proof items such as a statement from an employer showing the new address, bank statements, car registration, car insurance policy, hospital/doctor bill, paystub, government or official correspondence, etc.; 4) The parent should be advised that the school system reserves the right to monitor this type of proof periodically or as needed. The documents must be originals, not copies.

NOTE: A notarized Shared Housing Affidavit should only be used when the parent/guardian and the student are living with relatives or friends and is completed on an annual basis.  Additional items including recent mail may be required if there are concerns regarding the proof of residence, if the original term of the lease has expired, or if the ownership information of the relative/friends more than one year old.  Private party leases must be notarized by the landlord or a notarized letter from the landlord must be provided with the original lease.

FOREIGN STUDENTS

If the primary language is other than English or the child was born outside the U.S., or has studied in a foreign school system, please refer to the International Student Guidance Office, 301-445-8460, for an interview and assistance in completing registration forms.

Students may not be accepted into a school until such an interview has taken place. Prekindergarten students register directly at the school.

PROPER WITHDRAWAL FORMS

Withdrawal forms from the previous school student attended should accompany a student transferring to a new school; however, students should not be kept from registering if they have not been properly withdrawn from the previous school. The previous school should be notified that the student is now enrolled in your school and to verify grade placement.

PROOF OF AGE

Proof of age is required for all students.  Students in prekindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade must meet age requirements.  Sources for birth verification include: birth certificate, hospital certificate, physician’s certificate, and birth registration.  The proof must include the name of the mother and/or father, and the student’s date of birth.

CHANGING ADDRESS

If a student changes residence, please notify the school of the current address. If a student is moving during the summer, the child is to be withdrawn from the current school, and the new school will enter the new address. Each time a student moves from one address to another, even within the same school, a PA-14, Student Registration Form, is completed. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD REGISTRATION

Prekindergarten

Prince George’s County Public Schools prekindergarten program provides early childhood education to four-year-olds to help prepare them for kindergarten. As mandated by the State of Maryland, children admitted to the prekindergarten program in the public schools shall be four (4) years old on or before September 1 of the school year in which they are applying. Early entrance will be considered for children turning four (4) years of age between September 2 and October 15 of the school year for which they are requesting early entrance. Those seeking early entrance into prekindergarten must be deemed developmentally delayed based on an early entrance assessment. Over income families will be enrolled beginning October 1st on a space available basis.

For detailed information on prekindergarten admission procedures or to apply for early entrance testing, contact your boundary school. Families must meet program income eligibility guidelines. Students who meet age requirements and who are homeless will receive top priority.

Kindergarten

As mandated by the State of Maryland, children admitted to the kindergarten program in the public schools shall be five (5) years old on or before September 1 of the school year in which they are applying. Early entrance will be considered for children turning five (5) years of age between September 2 and October 15 of the school year for which they are requesting early entrance. Those seeking early entrance into

Kindergarten must demonstrate developmental readiness by achieving a score of 90% or better on an early entrance assessment.

Participation in public kindergarten or an approved alternative program is required for all students in the State of Maryland. For detailed information on kindergarten admission procedures or to apply for early entrance testing, contact your boundary school.

FIRST GRADE REGISTRATION

Children admitted to the first grade in the public schools shall be at least six (6) years old on or before September 1 of the school year in which they apply for entrance. Children cannot be enrolled in first grade unless they meet the age of entrance and have completed a public or private kindergarten program, one of the three (3) alternative program settings, or home school instruction. This applies to all children who are Maryland residents. Students who do not meet the age of entrance will be placed in kindergarten, and the parent may nominate the child for Early Entrance to First Grade. A six (6) year-old moving into Maryland from another state that has not had kindergarten experience, may be enrolled in first grade. The parent or guardian must provide proof that they just moved into the state of Maryland and must complete the Affidavit of Disclosure (PA-15) to establish proof of their legal residence. If the parent or guardian cannot provide proof that the child attended kindergarten or one of the alternative programs, or that they are new residents of Maryland, then the child cannot be enrolled in the first grade. The child must be enrolled in kindergarten.

Questions regarding the qualifications of any alternative program providers should be directed to the Early Childhood Office, 240-724-1924.

HEALTH RELATED DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION

Immunization record - The immunizations required before children can be admitted to school are diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, rubella (measles), rubella (3-day measles), mumps, and children in preschool through grade 11 must have varicella (chicken pox) and hepatitis B vaccines.

Regulations are as follows:

(1)  Require two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine for students five years of age, with first dose given on or after the first birthday and separated by at least 30 days. One dose, given after the first birthday, is required for pre-kindergarten students.  (2) Require two doses of varicella vaccines given on or after the first birthday. Two doses of varicella vaccine are required for a previously unvaccinated student 13 years of age or older.  Physician documented history of chicken pox disease by month and year is acceptable in lieu of vaccination. (3)  Require Haemophilus influenza (HIB) vaccine for children four years and younger, in preschool programs.  At least one dose has to be given after the first birthday. (4)  Require three doses of Hepatitis B.

(5)  Require four doses diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine. (6)  Require three doses of polio.

Physical Examination - A physical examination is recommended for each child entering the Maryland Public School System for the first time.  The examination must be performed within the period of nine months before school entry to six months after entry.  The form is available at each school or can be accessed from the Health Services page on this web site.

Lead Screening Certificate  - All newly enrolled students in prekindergarten through grade one must submit a form DHMH 4620 documenting that:  (1)   Blood lead testing was done; OR  (2)   The child has never lived in a targeted ZIP Code; OR  (3)   The parent has a religious objection to the testing.

The documented tests should be at 12 months and 24 months of age. Two test results are required if the first test was done prior to 24 months of age. If the first test is done after 24 months of age, one test result is required. If there is a religious objection to the blood test, a Lead Risk Assessment must be administered by a health care provider.  The form is available at each school.