Children's school enrollment

This page is for Turkish families who will enroll their child in a public school (kindergarten–12th grade) in the United States. Public schools in the United States are free, and your child's enrollment in school does not depend on your or the child's immigration status. Here we explain the school district, documents requested for enrollment, vaccination rules, English support classes (ESL), and the official offices to contact if your rights are violated. We use New York City and New York State rules as examples; your own state's rules may differ.

• Under the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v. Doe (1982), a state may not deny any child living within its borders a basic public education, regardless of the child's legal status.
• According to the joint letter issued by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on May 8, 2014:
  • the student's or parent's citizenship or immigration status may not be used to deny enrollment
  • the school district may request proof that the student lives in the district, such as a bill or lease
  • enrollment may not be denied because there is no birth certificate or because the place of birth is a foreign country
  • providing a Social Security number (SSN) is optional; enrollment may not be denied because you do not provide one
  • failure to answer statistical questions such as ethnicity may not result in denial of enrollment
• Children experiencing homelessness: the school must enroll the child immediately even if documents are missing (McKinney-Vento Act).

• Public schools are assigned based on address. The school connected to the address where you live is called the "zoned school."
• The compulsory education age varies by state; in most states it begins at age 5–6 and continues until age 16–18.
• State laws also determine the ages for which free education is provided. These age limits can be found in the NCES state table (the table uses 2017 data; ask your school district about the current rules).
• New York City example:
  • Find your zoned school by entering your address in NYC Public Schools' "Find a School" tool.
  • Elementary and middle school students assigned to a zoned school enroll directly at the school.
  • Family Welcome Centers help with school changes, transfers, or special enrollment situations. The centers are open Monday–Thursday from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; in-person or online appointments are available.
  • If you cannot find a suitable appointment, call +1 718 935 2828.
  • Enrollment forms do not need to be notarized.
• Bring your child's latest report card or transcript from Turkey for grade-level placement.

1. Proof of the child's age: birth certificate, passport, or baptismal record. The child's Turkish passport is also one of the documents on this list.
2. Immunization records (if available).
3. Latest report card or transcript (if available).
4. Two proofs of address. The documents must show your name and address. Some accepted documents include:
   • lease, deed, or mortgage document
   • electricity, natural gas, or cable TV bill from the last 60 days
   • water bill from the last 90 days; rent receipt from the last 60 days
   • official letter from a government agency, such as the IRS, from the last 60 days
   • current property tax bill; last year's income tax form
   • unexpired state driver's license or official ID, including IDNYC
   • pay stub from the last 60 days (a letter on the employer's letterhead alone is not sufficient)
   • voter registration documents; custody or guardianship order
5. If you are not the homeowner or the person named on the lease, complete the "Parent Affidavit of Residency" form. If you are not the child's parent or guardian, the "Non-Parent Affidavit" is required.
6. The enrollment checklist is published in 14 languages; there is no Turkish version.
7. Students in temporary housing are not required to provide an address, date of birth, or immunization record; the school enrolls them first and completes the documents later.

• In New York, all students in public, private, and religious schools from preschool through 12th grade must have the required vaccinations unless they have a valid medical exemption. Non-medical exemptions, such as religious exemptions, are not available.
• 14-day rule: Within 14 days of the first day of school, you must either document that the vaccinations are current or submit a valid medical exemption. A child with missing vaccinations must receive at least the first dose of the required vaccines within the first 14 days in order to continue attending.
• Required vaccines: diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP or Tdap), hepatitis B, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR, 2 doses beginning in kindergarten), polio, and varicella (2 doses beginning in kindergarten).
• Additional requirements for middle and high school: Tdap in grades 6–12; meningococcal (MenACWY) in grades 7–12; a second MenACWY dose in 12th grade after age 16.
• Additional requirements for daycare and preschool: Hib and pneumococcal (PCV).
• Doses must meet the minimum ages and intervals in the U.S. immunization schedule; doses given too early do not count. Therefore, show your Turkish immunization record to the school nurse or pediatrician from the beginning.
• For child health and vaccination tracking, see 8.6 Child health.

• Federal rule: Under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act (EEOA, 1703(f)), states and school districts must take action so that language barriers do not prevent students from participating equally. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the following may constitute violations:
  • failing to identify students who do not speak English
  • not offering a language program or failing to provide teachers and materials
  • removing a student from the program before the student's English is adequate
  • communicating important notices to parents who do not speak English without translation
  • failing to provide language support to a student receiving special education or excluding a student from a gifted program because the student's English is insufficient
• Parent notification (federal law): A school district operating a language program must provide parents with written information no later than 30 days after the start of the school year (within the first 2 weeks after placement for students identified during the year): why the child is being placed in the program, the child's English level, the program's method, and the requirements for exiting.
• Parents' rights: the right to remove your child from the program immediately, reject the program, or choose another program. Notification should be provided in a language the parent understands whenever practicable.
• Process in New York City:
  1. During enrollment, all parents complete the Home Language Identification Survey.
  2. If a language other than English is spoken at home, the school may administer the NYSITELL exam.
  3. Based on the exam result, the child is identified as an "English Language Learner" (ELL).
  4. All ELL students take "English as a New Language" (ENL) classes. If the school has a bilingual program, the child may also be placed in that program according to the parent's choice.
  5. The school must place the child in a program within 10 school days after enrollment (20 days for students with an individualized education plan).

• Children in F-2 or M-2 status (the student's children): may attend public elementary, middle, and high school at their grade level without additional permission. The school does not need to be SEVP-approved.
• Dependent statuses such as J-2, H-4, and L-2: see 2.7 Spouse and child (dependent) visas for details.
• Tourist (B-1/B-2) status: A person in B status violates their status if they enroll in an educational program. A change to F-1 status or an F-1 visa is required before starting school. See 2.1 Tourist and business travel (B-1/B-2).
• High school as an F-1 student: F-1 students may not attend public elementary or middle school. They may attend public high school for a total maximum of 12 months, and the school district's full per-student cost must be paid in advance. Details: 2.2.

• First, contact the school and school district: the principal, the school district's enrollment office, and the ELL coordinator.
• U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR):
  • Phone: +1 800 421 3481; for people with hearing impairments (TDD): +1 800 877 8339
  • Email: OCR@ed.gov
  • Regional offices and online complaints: ocrcas.ed.gov
• U.S. Department of Justice – Educational Opportunities Section:
  • Phone: +1 202 514 4092; toll-free: +1 877 292 3804
  • Online report: civilrights.justice.gov
• State education departments (states with large Turkish communities):
  • New York: nysed.gov
  • New Jersey: nj.gov/education
  • California: cde.ca.gov
  • Texas: tea.texas.gov
  • Florida: fldoe.org
  • Illinois: isbe.net
  • Massachusetts: doe.mass.edu
• For grade equivalency when returning to Turkey, see 6.7 Equivalency when returning to Turkey.

• Thinking you must provide immigration documents that the school did not request.
• Not going to enroll because you do not have an SSN.
• Failing to bring the Turkish immunization record and latest report card, causing a delay in grade placement.
• Missing New York's 14-day vaccination deadline and having the child kept out of school.
• Signing the written notice about the ELL program without reading it.
• Enrolling a child in school while in tourist status.

• Are public schools really free? Yes. State laws require free education for children of certain ages. Public schools are funded by local, state, and federal taxes.
• We have no status; can my child attend school? Yes. Under Plyler v. Doe, status is not a barrier to enrollment in public school.
• The school asks for an SSN. Do I have to provide it? No. Providing an SSN is optional; the school must tell you this and explain why it is requesting one.
• My child does not speak any English. The school must assess the language level and provide English support classes. You may also choose to opt out of these classes.
• What grade will my child be placed in? The school determines this based on age and previous school records. Bring report cards and transcripts.
• My landlord does not have a bill in my name. How can I provide proof of address? In New York City, use the "Parent Affidavit of Residency" form. Ask the enrollment office about the options in other school districts.
• My English is weak. How can I communicate with the school? Federal law requires notices to parents about the ELL program to be provided, whenever practicable, in a language the parents understand. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, failing to translate important notices for parents who do not speak English may be a violation. Ask the school for an interpreter.
• What can I do so my child does not forget Turkish? See 6.6 for MEB's free online classes.

• ED and DOJ – Joint letter on school enrollment, 2014 (PDF)
• NYC Public Schools – Enrollment checklist (PDF)
• NYC Public Schools – Enrollment forms (14 languages)
• NYC – School search
• New York – 2026–27 school vaccination requirements (PDF)
• OCR – Find a regional office and file a complaint
• DOJ – Report a civil rights violation
• NCES – U.S. school search
• ED – Contact information for state education agencies