Friday, March 28, 2003

Registration set for elementary schools

The Fulton County School System will hold elementary school registration May 7 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., and May 8, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The registration is for rising kindergartners and other elementary students who will be new to the Fulton County School System in 2003-2004. All elementary schools also will be open for registration beginning in August from 8 a.m. ­ 4 p.m.

To register, go to the elementary school your child will be attending in the fall. Students who will attend the new East Point elementary school on Langford Parkway should register at the school they currently are zoned to attend.

The Fulton County School System currently offers 75 pre-kindergarten classes, of which 55 are funded through the state Office of School Readiness (OSR) and 20 are funded locally.

The number of Pre-K classes funded next year will not be finalized until final passage of the state and Fulton County School System budgets. The school system has requested grant funding from the Office of School Readiness to fund 20 additional Georgia Prekindergarten Program classes for 2003-2004.

Parents may also view the state Office of School Readiness website to determine the location of Georgia Prekindergarten Program providers in the private sector http://www.osr.state.ga.us.

When registering a student new to the school system, parents should bring:

Certificate of ear, eye, and dental screening, which is theGeorgia Department of Human Resources Form 3300, signed by the Health Department or a licensed Georgia physician.

Immunization form signed by the Health Department or a licensed Georgia physician. Georgia requires students to be immunized against measles, mumps, polio, rubella, whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza, and varicella.

Sixth grade students must have an additional MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccine and are required to have the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine or proof of immunity. The Georgia DHR Form 3189 is acceptable for these students showing the additional immunizations for 6th graders.

Government-issued birth certificate. According to Georgia law, children must be five years old by September 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten and to enroll in first grade, children must be six years old by September 1. The only exceptions are:

Students who are age five by December 31 and who have lived outside the state of Georgia for the past two years and have enrolled in a public or accredited private kindergarten may enroll in public kindergarten in Georgia.

Students who are six by December 31 and who have lived outside the state of Georgia for the past two years and have completed public or accredited private kindergarten or have attended a public or accredited private first grade may enroll in first grade in Georgia.

Proof of residency. To enroll in Fulton County schools, the student's parent or legal guardian must be a resident of the school system. Appropriate records for verification of residency must include any two of the following:

· Copy of home mortgage payment book

· Current utility bill (gas, electric, or water)

· Apartment lease showing name of legal guardian

· Homeowner's insurance registration/card

· Current paycheck stub

· Current bank statement

· Driver's license showing legal guardian's current address with one of the above

· Copy of sales contract

· Receipt to have utilities connected

· Affidavit of residency with signatures from the permanent resident and parent or guardian notarized with two of the above. The two additional documents should bear the name of the person signing as the permanent resident of the dwelling or apartment.

· Social Security Numbers are voluntary. Migrant number is acceptable.

· Academic Records. If possible, please bring most recent report card, withdrawal form from previous school and/or transcripts.

The 2003-2004 Fulton County school year begins on August 11, 2003, for the majority of Fulton County students. Two Fulton elementary schools, College Park and Parklane, operate on a year-round calendar and will begin school on July 14.