School Basics | Choosing a School | Eligibility
Registering | Additional Information

Answers to Common Questions About Schools

REGISTERING

When and where do I register my child for school?

For public schools, procedures for registering children vary. Some have centralized offices, and some handle registration at individual schools. For parochial and independent schools, registration is handled by the individual school. Registration information can generally be found at each school's web site. (See our list of school-related web sites.) Otherwise, the Center for Work, Family & Personal Life can provide you with more information once you have decided where you are going to live and/or what kind of school your child will attend.

What information do I need in order to register my child?

Again, procedures vary, but you will generally need the following:

• Immunization records
• Birth certificate or passport
• Proof of address (public school only)
• Records from the child's previous school (if any)

Immunization records are needed to verify that your child has received all the immunizations required by state law. If your child needs any immunizations, MIT Medical can assist you in obtaining them. A list of the state-required immunizations is available at http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/epii/imm/school_req/schoolentry.pdf.

Documents that can serve as proof of address often can include a lease, utility bill, or purchase-and-sale agreement. In some towns, a special form is required, available by consulting their web sites.