Bring your child! Parents must also have proof of immunization and proof of New York City residence. If your child is enrolling for the first time, you must also bring proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport. (To apply for a birth certificate, click here.) Immigrants do not need to bring any documents on their immigration status. If your child has been enrolled in a different school, bring whatever records you have such as report cards or transcripts to make sure your child is placed in the correct grade. If you do not have school records, your child should enroll and start attending while the new school sends for them. And if there is a dispute about documentation, the child should be admitted provisionally while the enrollment office investigates.

To prove you live in the school's zone, you are required to bring two documents addressed to you at home such as a utility bill, a letter from a federal, state or city agency, a payroll statement signed by your employer, a lease or a deed. In general, schools do not accept phone bills or rent receipts as proof of residence. If you are subletting or sharing an apartment and are not the primary resident, you can bring an affidavit from the primary residents saying you live there. You should also bring their proof of New York City residence. (See also definition of a child's residence.) Be sure to consult Chancellor's Regulation A-101 for details.

If you have taken over responsibility for a young person because the parent has abandoned or is otherwise unable to take care of the child, you are considered the custodial parent. If you are a custodial parent, you do not need guardianship papers to register your child. You do, however, need to write and sign an affidavit describing why the parent cannot provide care and stating that you are now responsible for the child.

Immunizations required for school

If you don't have immunization records, schools will give you a two-week "grace period" either to produce your child's immunization records or verify that you have started your child on the first round of shots. Families can also receive exemptions for religious or medical reasons. If you've lost your immunization records, or your child hasn't been vaccinated, or you need a religious or medical exemption, see below for more information.

Required immunizations
All children in New York State must be immunized against certain diseases, but requirements vary slightly depending on the student's age. Here's a breakdown of what your child needs, according to the NYC Department of Health:

All students must have the following immunizations:

• OPV or IPV - polio: 3 doses
• MMR - measles, mumps, rubella (German measles): 2 doses
• and one of the following depending on age:
  • Tdap - tetanus, diptheria, acellular pertussis (whooping cough): 3 doses;
  • DTP - diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough): 4 doses; or
  • Dtap - diptheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis: 4 doses

Children born on or after January 1, 1993 and all students in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade must also have

• Hepatitis B: 3 doses

Children born on or after January 1, 1998 must also have

• Varicella (chicken pox): 1 dose

Students entering middle and/or high schools must have PPD (Mantoux Tubercullin Skin Test) and all entering 6th graders must have a booster shot of Tdap.

For details, see the Department of Health immunization webpage, or call (212) 676-2259.

For the Department of Education's Office of School Health, visit their website or call (212) 374-6097.

Grace Period
If parents have not had their children vaccinated, they can use a two week grace period to correct the situation.

Exemptions
If there are medical reasons why a child cannot receive an immunization, the parent must provide medical certification. If a parent holds "genuine and sincere religious beliefs" contrary to immunization, they can exempt their child from immunization requirements as well, according to a city schools' regulation, Chancellor's Regulation A-701.

Immunization Registry
Since January 1, 1997, all vaccines administered to children under 7 are reported to the Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR) which keeps a record. Parents who want a copy of the record, or wish to add information about vaccines administered after age 7 should call (212) 676-2323 for the necessary forms. Or they can write to CIR, New York City Department of Health, 2 Lafayette Street, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

Department of Health Immunization Clinics
For students who need their shots, but who do not have access to a primary care physician, Department of Health clinics can provide immunization. For more information call (212) 676-2273.

Parents who have questions about vaccinations should call the National Immunization Hotline at (800) 232-2522; Spanish language: (800) 232-2522, TTY: (800) 243-7889. You can also visit the NYC Department of Health's website.

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