Enrolling your children in Iowa schools: a checklist for new families

Every child in Iowa has the right to a free public education, whatever their immigration status or their parents' status. The U.S. Supreme Court settled that in 1982, and it is still the law. Here is what to expect when you enroll your children, and what a school may and may not ask.

What to bring to enrollment

• Proof of your child's age, such as a birth certificate or a passport. If you do not have one, ask what else the school accepts: a missing birth certificate cannot keep your child out of school.

• Proof that you live in the district, such as a lease, a utility bill or a letter from the place you are staying.

• Your child's immunization records. Iowa schools require a certificate of immunization, and a provisional enrollment can give you time to catch up on shots.

• Any report cards or school records from before, in any language.

• A phone number where the school can always reach you.

What a school cannot ask

A school should not ask about your child's immigration status or yours, and it cannot use status to keep a child out. It may not refuse to enroll a child because a parent has no Social Security number or no state ID. Schools sometimes ask for a Social Security number, but giving one is your choice. If your family has no fixed home right now, federal law lets your child enroll right away, even without the usual papers.

Help in your language

Schools must communicate with parents in a language they understand, so you can ask for an interpreter at enrollment, at conferences and for important notices, at no cost to you. Children who are learning English have a right to support in school. Many families also qualify for free or reduced price school meals, and applying does not depend on immigration status.