5150

 Age of Attendance, School Admissions and Attendance Areas

The District shall provide a public education to all persons residing in the District between the ages of five and through the school year in which the child becomes twenty-one, who have not received a high school diploma.  


Ages of Attendance


A child who reaches their fifth birthday on or before December 1st of the year of matriculation is entitled to attend and may be admitted to kindergarten. A child who has regularly attended and satisfactorily completed a full school year of kindergarten in a program duly registered with the New York State Education Department will be enrolled in the first grade.  


Compulsory Attendance


All children within the compulsory ages of attendance (age six by December 1st of a school year through the school year in which the child becomes 16 years of age) must attend school full time, in a public or nonpublic school, or by receiving home schooling, unless he or she has completed a four-year high school course of study. A minor who has completed a four-year high school course of study is not required to attend school.


A veteran  of any age who resides in the District who has not yet received their high school diploma and who has been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable is eligible to attend school. 


School Admission 


Upon registration, all new students shall be required to present:


1. Proof of age - examples of acceptable forms of documentation include, but are not limited to, a birth certificate or baptismal certificate (including a foreign certified transcription of either such certificate). In the absence of these certificates, a passport (including a foreign passport) or other acceptable evidence of age.

2. Record of immunizations and a health certificate from a licensed physician; and

3. Proof of District residency – examples of acceptable forms of documentation include, but are not limited to:

a. A copy of a residential lease or proof of ownership of a house or condominium (i.e., deed, mortgage statement, etc.);

b. A sworn or unsworn statement authored by a third-party landlord, owner or tenant from whom the parents(s) or person(s) in parental relation leases or shares property;

c. Other statements from third parties that establish the parent’s(s’) or person(s) in parental relation’s physical presence in the District; and/or

d. Affidavits indicating either 1) that the person seeking enrollment is the parent with whom the child lawfully resides; or 2) that they are the person(s) in parental relation to the child, with total/permanent custody and control and describing how they obtained the same (i.e. guardianship or by other means).

   e. Other appropriate and relevant documentation provided by the person(s) seeking a student’s enrollment. 


Verification of Residency


The District reserves the right to verify the information provided in support of a child’s enrollment in the District. Student admission shall not be unduly delayed pending verification of the address and/or custody. Verification and/or investigation of residency will also take place after student admission has been effected.


Should a student’s address change at any time during their enrollment, the student’s parents/guardian must submit acceptable documents to the District to confirm the change in address and/or custody. A child’s address of residence is presumed to be that of the parents/guardian. If a student is not residing with the parents/legal guardian, the Registrar will investigate to determine the legitimacy of the residency. If the results of the investigation determine that a student's address has been purposefully changed in order for the student to attend the District’s schools, the District will immediately commence a residency determination procedure. The parents/guardian may be responsible for tuition owed to the District.


Residency Determinations 


The Board appoints the Superintendent as the District’s residency designee and delegates to him/her the authority to make final residency determinations. A determination will be made by the Superintendent as to whether a child will be admitted to or permitted to continue enrollment in a District school. The Superintendent shall afford the child’s parent or legal custodial person the opportunity to submit information concerning the child’s right to attend school in the District.


If the Superintendent determines that a child is not a resident and not entitled to attend, written notice will be provided to the parent or legal custodial person within two business days after receipt of the information. 


Attendance Areas


School attendance areas shall be determined by the Board. A student who moves into another attendance area within the District during a school year may, with the approval of the Superintendent, be allowed to complete up to the remainder of the trimester at their original school, provided that the parents or guardians provide the necessary transportation. Students in third grade may be permitted, with approval of the Superintendent, to complete the remainder of the school year in their current school.

 


Cross-ref:  5152, Admission of Non-Resident Students

        5420, Student Health Services


Ref: Education Law §§903; 904; 3202; 3208

Public Health Law §2164

Student Registration Guidance, New York State Department of Education,  August 26, 2010  


Adoption date: October 16, 2017

Amended date: May 24, 2021

Amended date: September 18, 2023

Amended date: October 23, 2023

Amended date: April 15, 2024