Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs - Enrollment & Custody Issues

Q: I live within the South-Western City School District (SWCSD) boundaries. A child, who is not my biological child, is coming to live with me. His/Her custodial parent resides elsewhere. Can I enroll the child in the SWCSD?

A: No. You need to obtain custody or guardianship of the child and, as required by Ohio Law, proof of custody must be provided at the time of enrollment. Please contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office at (614) 525-4410 for further details.

Q: I have a motion for custody. Can I enroll my child with a court ordered motion?

A: Yes, IF the motion is court-filed, stamped, and has a future hearing date, typically within 60 days. The Student Enrollment Center can accept this motion until the final court documents are completed.

Q: I am the biological father of a child and want to enroll him/her in school. The biological mother and I were never married. What do I need to do?

A: In the State of Ohio, if parents were not married or at the time of birth, the mother is the sole custodial parent unless the father goes to court and obtains an order of custody (Ohio Revised Code 3109.042). Proof of custody must be provided at the time of enrollment in order to enroll your child(ren). Please contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office at (614) 525-4410 for further details.

Q: I have a court order/judgment entry giving me custody of a child. However, it is not signed by a judge. Is this acceptable?

A: No. The court order must be signed by a judge/magistrate, dated, and time-stamped to be valid and accepted.

Q: A friend/relative provided me a notarized statement giving me custody of his/her child. Is this an acceptable as proof of custody document?

A: No. The SWCSD will not accept notarized statements. You need to obtain custody/guardianship of the child and, as required by Ohio Law, proof of custody must be provided at the time of enrollment. Please contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office at (614) 525-4410 for further details.

Q: My former spouse and I have a shared parenting agreement. We live in two different school districts. Can my child attend school in either school district?

A: No. The child must attend school in the district of the “residential parent for school placement purposes" as stated in the divorce/separation agreement and/or shared parenting plan.

Q: I am divorced and the children live with me. I am the sole custodial parent. I do not want the non-custodial parent to have access to the children’s school records. Is this acceptable?

A: No. According to Ohio Law, a non-custodial parent has the same rights as a custodial parent pertaining to student records. The only exception is if you have a protection order or restraining order which would not allow access by the other parent. If you have such an order and wish for us to honor your request, the enrollment center MUST have a copy of the protection order. Otherwise, the school district cannot deny the non-custodial parent rights to student records.

Q: I do not live within the boundaries of the SWCSD. Can my child(ren) attend a SWCSD school?

A: No. The SWCSD is not an open-enrollment school district. You must live within the district boundaries to attend a school in the SWCSD. You can review your home address and school assignment by visiting: http://www.swcsd.us/enrollment/school-assignment-by-address.

Q: I have moved in with a friend/relative and do not have proof of residency. How can I enroll my child in school in the SWCSD?

A: At the time of enrollment, the parent/guardian is required to provide proof of residency. However, we do understand there are situations that may require a family to move in with a friend/relative. In these situations, two notarized forms must be completed: 1) an Oath of Residence Affidavit by Parent/Guardian; and 2) a Residency Affidavit by Renter/Owner. This will require the renter/owner to provide the required proof of residency at the time of enrollment and grants the registering family thirty (30) days to provide the district with proof of residency at that address.

Q: My child has been expelled from another school district. Can I enroll him/her in the SWCSD?

A: No. SWCSD honors all suspensions and expulsions from other school districts. In addition, if a student is expelled from the SWCSD, the expulsion applies to all schools in the district. S/he must re-enroll at the Enrollment Center once the expulsion is completed.

Q: My child currently attends school in the SWCSD. Due to financial hardship, we lost our home and are currently homeless, without a permanent address or living in a shelter. What do I do?

A: Contact the Student Enrollment Center at (614) 801-6280 or go to 4750 Big Run South Road, Grove City, Ohio 43123 for more information and assistance.