SCHOOL ADMISSION

The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education shall admit a student to the Tuscaloosa City School System based upon an application submitted by the parent/custodian to the attendance supervisor under such rules and regulations as the Board may prescribe.

Kindergarten/First Grade

Children entering kindergarten must be five years old on or before *September 2nd. Children entering first grade must be six years old on or before *September 2nd. Daily attendance expectations for kindergarten students are the same as with other students enrolled in the system. No child shall be admitted to the Tuscaloosa City School System until his/her parents/custodian of record meet the following requirements:

1. Present proof to school officials verifying that their residence is located within the school system.
2. Present to school officials a Certified Birth Certificate or a Health Department Verification Form. Provided the Health Department Verification Form is the only document presented to verify the child's birthday, the child's parents/custodian must secure a Certified Birth Certificate and present it to school officials to accurately verify their child's date of birth. In such cases, the parents/custodian must present evidence (money order receipt or canceled check) that they have applied for a Certified Birth Certificate.
3. Present proof to school officials that the child has received immunizations for all communicable diseases as required by law.
4. Present a valid Social Security Number and Card.

*An opinion of the attorney general states in effect that under the common law one's age is computed by including the day of birth so that a given age is attained the day before the birthday anniversary.

Homeless, Migrant, Non-English Speaking, Disabled

Children who are zoned to attend the Tuscaloosa City Schools and who are homeless, migrant, non-English speaking, immigrant, or disabled will have access to a free, appropriate education. Students will not be prohibited from school attendance due to barriers such as:

1. Residency requirements
2. Lack of Social Security
3. Lack of Birth Certificate
4. Lack of Immunizations
5. Legal custody requirements
6. Transportation
7. Language barriers
8. Disabilities

Should students enter without the required documents, administrators with the assistance of the district's Social Worker will take necessary steps to secure the required documents.

Transfers

Students applying for enrollment for the first time should be admitted upon presentation of the most recent report card or a release form from the last school attended. The principal will be responsible for contacting the principal of the last school attended to determine eligibility of continued attendance at that school and to secure a transcript and other applicable records.

1. Present proof to school officials of residences in the areas served by the school system and school zone.
2. Present to school officials a Certified Birth Certificate or a Health Department Verification Form. Provided the Health Department Verification Form is the only document presented to verify the child's birthday, the child's parents/custodians must secure a Certified Birth Certificate and present it to school officials to accurately verify their child's date of birth. In such cases, parents/custodians must present evidence (money order receipt or canceled check) that they have applied for a Certified Birth Certificate.
3. Present proof to school officials that the child has received immunizations for all communicable diseases as required by law.
4. Present a valid Social Security Number and Card.

Enrollment of Student Eighteen Years and Older

Transfers

Enrollment of a student 18 years and older who has not enrolled in or withdrawn from school the previous academic year must have the approval of the superintendent. Consideration will be given to (1) age; (2) current grade; (3) previous school record; (4) exit status; and (5) any other information that may be relevant.

Student over Twenty Years of Age

If a person's twentieth birthday is on or before September 2nd in any given school year, he/she shall not be admitted to school within the school system without the written approval of the superintendent.

Standard Procedures

1. Students requesting to enroll in the Tuscaloosa City School System through the Department of Human Resources and Juvenile and Family Court will be referred to the superintendent's office or designee for enrollment validation. The appropriate officials from the agencies listed above will accompany the student to the office and must have the following records with them:
   1. Academic Records
   2. Transfer or Withdrawal Papers
   3. Immunization Record
   4. Any other record deemed appropriate for enrollment
2. Principals will not enroll any student in school under the Internal Transfer Procedures unless the transfer is validated by the superintendent.
   1. Approval in writing by the superintendent or designee
   2. Proof of a bona fide move into the attendance zone
   3. All school records including immunization form
   4. A transfer/withdrawal slip
      It is the responsibility of the sending principal to insure that all validations are received when an internal transfer is made.
3. All students enrolled in the Tuscaloosa City School System must live with a custodial person. When the principal determines that a student is living alone without a legal custodial person or is not legally married, the principal will notify the student that he/she is in violation of standard procedures and must comply within five (5) days. Extenuating circumstances must be approved by the superintendent.
4. A written request for hardship transfer or majority to minority transfer will be made in writing to the superintendent in accordance with the Student Transfer Policy, JBCD. The superintendent will make the final decision regarding any request for transfer. Request for hardship transfer must be re-submitted in writing each year to the superintendent.

Denial of Admission

It shall be the policy of the Board to deny admission to the following students:

1. Students 16 years of age or older who have repeatedly been dismissed from school for violation of the rules of the school.
2. Students 16 years of age or older who have not registered within five (5) school days of the beginning of the new semester, except that a qualified exceptional education student may be admitted after the deadline upon a review by the student's IEP committee and a determination that the absences were related to the student's disabling condition.

Go back