School Enrollment and Residency
Legal Information

This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about School Enrollment and Residency issues in Pennsylvania.
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Back to School: Know your Enrollment Rights (Video)
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this basic guide to enrolling your child in a Pennsylvania public school. Read More
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Back to School: How to Enroll a Child in School who is Living with Someone Other Than a Parent (Video)
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this guide to enrolling children in school if they are living with someone other than a parent. Typically, these children are living with a caregiver such as a grandparent, a relative, or a family friend. Like other youth, these children have the right to go to school in the district where they live. Read More
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Back to School: How to enroll a child who is homeless in school (Video)
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this guide to the enrollment rights of students who are homeless. These students have special rights under a federal law called the McKinney-Vento act. Read More
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Back to School: How to Enroll Yourself as an Older Youth in School (Video)
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania Provides this enrollment guide for older youth who are emancipated or living on their own. You have a legal right to go to school in Pennsylvania until the end of the school term in which you have your 21st birthday. Read More
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Enrollment of Students
Basic Education Circular from the Pennsylvania Department of Education concerning enrollment of students. [PDF] Content Detail
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Student Enrollment - Questions & Answers
The Pennsylvania Department of Education provides Questions and Answers to assist parents, school districts and charter schools in the student enrollment process. This information is based on applicable school law and regulation and reflects procedures outlined in the recently revised Basic Education Circular (BEC) on Student Enrollment. [PDF] Content Detail
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How to Enroll a Child in Public School
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this step-by-step guide to enrolling a child in public school. Content Detail
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How to Enroll a Child Living with Someone Other than A Parent
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this Enrollment Guide explaining how to enroll a child living with someone other than a parent. Content Detail
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How to Enroll a Child Who is Homeless
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this Enrollment Guide on how to enroll a child who is experiencing homelessness in school. Children who are homeless have special rights which are guaranteed by a federal law called the McKinney-Vento Act. They can usually stay in the same school if they move, they can start school without records, and have other rights designed to protect their right to an education. Content Detail
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How to Enroll Yourself as an Older Youth in School
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this step-by-step fact sheet to help older youth enroll themselves in school quickly. It also provides contact information and the necessary forms for school enrollment. Content Detail
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School Enrollment by a Non-Parent Caregiver
Information from MidPenn Legal Services on how a non-parent can enroll a child in school. [PDF] Content Detail
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Homeschooling in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, children between the ages of eight and seventeen must attend school. Educating a child at home is one way to comply with compulsory school attendance laws. This fact sheet from the Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides information on homeschooling guidelines in Pennsylvania. Content Detail
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Homeless Education - PA Department of Education
Information from the Pennsylvania Department of Education on homeless children's right to an education. Content Detail
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School Success for Students Without Homes - A Toolkit for Parents and Providers
The Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides this collection of “tools” to help parents and providers ensure school success for children and youth (ages 3-21) in Pennsylvania who are experiencing homelessness. The toolkit provides information about important laws and explains legal rights and how to use them. Content Detail
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Rights of English Language Learners (ELL) & Families with Limited English Proficiency
This fact sheet from the Education Law Center - Pennsylvania provides an outline of the rights of English language learners (ELL) and/or families of students with limited English proficiency. Content Detail