Eligibility to Enroll in Worcester County Public Schools
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A student under the age of 18 years is eligible to enroll in the
Worcester County Public School system without payment of tuition if the
student is domiciled with one or both parents or legal guardians and
they maintain their principal residence and place of domicile in
Worcester County. The legal guardian of a student for purposes of this
policy is the person or persons who by court order have been granted and
exercise actual, bona fide custody and control over the student.
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Parents or legal guardians of all students who enroll in the
Worcester County Public Schools must present proof that they are
domiciled in Worcester County. Copies of this documentation must be
placed in the student's cumulative folder. Examples of acceptable
documentation include, but are not limited to the following:
- Valid Driver's license
- Current property tax bill
- Current rental lease
- Current utility bill with name and address
- A completed Affidavit of Disclosure form
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Student who is domiciled with a person other than a parent or
legal guardian, and has been determined to be a bona fide resident of
Worcester County by the Superintendent or designee, may enroll tuition
free.
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A student 18 years of age or older is eligible to enroll in the
Worcester County school system if the student maintains his/her
principal residence and place of domicile in Worcester County.
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In cases where the principal residence and place of domicile of
the parents or legal guardians of the student is, in the opinion of the
Superintendent, uncertain, the parents or guardians may be required to
complete an affidavit of disclosure as a precondition for enrollment of
the student in the Worcester County Public School system. The purpose of
the affidavit of disclosure is limited to ascertaining from the parents
or guardians their legal residence and place of domicile and the
duration of that residence. Parents or guardians who complete the
affidavit of disclosure shall attest to the truth of the information in
the affidavit by their signature which shall be witnessed by a person
designated by the Superintendent.
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If it is determined that a student enrolled in Worcester County
Public Schools is ineligible to attend, the student will be promptly
disenrolled. If it is determined that enrollment of the student was
obtained by misrepresentation of the principal residence and place of
domicile of the parent or guardian, the parent or guardian will be
charged the applicable tuition rate prorated for the period of time the
student attended Worcester County Public Schools while ineligible to do
so.
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Handicapped students are eligible to enroll in the Worcester
County school system under the standard set forth in the Annotated Code
of Maryland, as from time to time amended.
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Students placed in Worcester County residences by a state agency,
a licensed child placement agency as provided by the Family Law
Article, or a court in a county other than where the child's parent or
legal guardian resides are eligible to enroll in the Worcester County
Public School system as set forth in the Annotated Code of Maryland.
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Students who are determined to be homeless are eligible to enroll in the Worcester County Public Schools tuition free.
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The Board of Education recognizes that unusual and unique
circumstances exist for individual students from time to time. The
Superintendent may admit noneligible students, tuition free, on a year
to year basis, when in his judgment compelling circumstances exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I start with enrolling my child in school for the first time?
If this is the first time your child will be enrolling in any school, call the school
and ask what you must bring with you to enroll your child. As a
minimum, most schools require the following documents: birth
certificate; proof of custody/guardianship (documentation which
determines where the child resides and who has decision-making
authority); proof of residency; and record of immunizations (DHMH Form
896).
What do I do if my child is transferring from one school to another?
Call the school your child last attended and ask the
school to prepare a Maryland Transfer Form. Tell them the last day your
child will attend school and ask if you may pick up the Maryland Transfer Form,
or if it can be mailed to you or brought home to you by your child. The
Maryland Transfer Form will contain all the information you need to
enroll your child in the new school.
Call your child's new school and schedule an appointment. Be
sure you bring the Maryland Transfer Form. The appointment will ensure
that time is set aside to speak with you and to answer any questions you
may have. Also ask what items you need to bring with you to enroll your
child in the new school.
Why is proof of custody/guardianship required?
Proof of custody/guardianship is required to identify who is legally
responsible for the child and who can be contacted in case of an
emergency. This tells the school who can make educational decisions for
the child. Each local school system determines which documents will be
accepted as proof (i.e., a court order; a separation or divorce decree;
or a birth certificate which identifies the parents). Call the school and ask what documents are acceptable.
Why is proof of residency required?
The residence of the parents/legal custodian/guardian determines the
child's right to attend the local public school. Acceptable proof of
residency is established by each local school system. You should call
the school where you plan to enroll the child to find out what will be
accepted as proof of residency. Generally accepted documents are:
current rental lease; current utility bills containing applicant's name
and address; or a current property tax bill.
Does this procedure include children in Kinship Care?
These requirements include formal Kinship Care (when a child is
removed from his/her family and is placed with a relative by a State
child welfare agency) and appropriate documentation as stated in
Questions 3 and 4.
Why do I need to bring proof of age?
Proof of age is particularly important the first time a child enrolls
in school. It helps determine which services and programs are available
to the child. The mandatory attendance law applies to children between
the ages of five to sixteen.
A birth certificate and other documents as determined by each local
school system may be used as proof of age. A copy of your documentation
will be made by the school and attached to your child's record. Call the
school to see what document other than the birth certificate will be
accepted as proof of age.
Why do I need to bring immunization records?
All children need to have an up-to-date copy of immunization records
to be enrolled in, and to attend, school. If your child's immunizations
need to be updated and you can bring written proof of an appointment
within 20 days to obtain the immunizations, you may temporarily enroll
your child pending receipt of the required immunizations. Your doctor or
health clinic can provide the DHMH 896 Form, or a computer-generated
form, for you to take to the school.
Immunization requirements for children can be found by clicking on this link: http://www.edcp.org/html/schoolrequire.cfm
Why do I need to bring the current Individualized Education Program (IEP) for my child who receives Special Education services?
This will ensure that your child receives, at the new school, the
appropriate special education services and related services which were
specifically developed for your child. It will also provide the school
with the dates for the annual IEP review of your child's program as well
as any re-evaluations that may be required.
Do I need to bring the most recent report card and/or withdrawal grades?
This information is very helpful in matching up a continuing program
for your child. It tells the school what courses your child was taking
and may indicate the instructional level. For elementary children, it
may indicate the reading or math series with which your child was being
taught. For high school students, it may indicate credit earned and/or
graduation requirements which have been met.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please
contact the Maryland State Department of Education's Pupil Personnel
Specialist, at 410-767-0300.
For more information, call 410-767-0600 in the Baltimore area or Toll-Free at 1-888-246-0016.