Learn about enrolling and registering your child for Kent County Public Schools below. Also available below are enrollment forms and other documents such as out-of-zone applications and transcript request forms.

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 register your child. At a minimum, schools require the following documents: birth certificate; proof of custody/guardianship (documentation which determines with whom the child resides and who has decision-making authority); proof of residency; and record of immunizations (DHMH Form 896).

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 register your child in the new school.

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. Documents accepted as proof of custody include a court order; a separation or divorce decree that outlines a custody agreement; or a birth certificate that identifies the parents. A notarized statement giving guardianship is not acceptable.

The residence of the parents/legal custodian/guardian determines the child's right to enroll in a particular public school. Documents accepted as proof of residency include a property tax bill, deed, or mortgage account statement; renter’s agreement or lease; or electric, gas, oil, water, or landline telephone bill. The documents must contain both the applicant’s name, and the physical address (P.O. boxes cannot establish proof of residence).

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 Informal Kinship Care (when a parent or legal guardian places a child with a relative for one of the outlined criteria in COMAR). In addition to these requirements, relatives of children in Informal Kinship Care must file an affidavit with Student Services and may be required to provide additional documentation.

Proof of age is particularly important the first time a child registers for school. It helps determine which services and programs are available to the child. Maryland’s mandatory attendance law applies to children between the ages of five to sixteen.

Acceptable documents are a birth certificate or registration, passport or visa, hospital certificate, church certificate, or

doctor’s certificate. A copy of your documentation will be made by the school and attached to your child's record.

All children need to have an up-to-date copy of their immunization records to be registered 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 register 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.

Children exposed to lead can develop physical and behavioral problems as well as learning disabilities. Beginning in school year 2003-2004, all children registered in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade who currently live or have ever lived in the targeted ZIP codes must show evidence of blood lead testing. To comply with this new law, parents/guardians must complete the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Blood Lead Testing Certificate, which is available from your school or doctor. 

The Blood Lead Testing Certificate requires parents/guardians to:

Provide the dates of blood lead tests if your child currently lives or has lived in any of the targeted ZIP codes identified on the back of the form or certify that your child does not live, nor has ever lived, in the ZIP codes identified on the back of the form.

If your child has never had a blood lead test and needs one, please contact your child’s doctor. If your child does not have a doctor, your school nurse may be able to assist you in obtaining the required test.

Yes. This will ensure that your child receives the appropriate special education and related services that 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 evaluations that may be required.

Yes. 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 school children, it may indicate the reading or math series that was used to teach your child. For high school students, it may indicate credits earned and/or graduation requirements that have been met.