It is the policy of the Jackson County Board of Education to provide educational opportunities for children on a nondiscriminatory basis.  No student will be denied the benefits of an educational program or activity on the basis of disability, gender, race, religion, national origin, or ethnic group.

No school within the Jackson County School System will enroll any student who is suspended, expelled, or subject to pending disciplinary action by any other public or private school system without the approval of the Jackson County Board of Education.  No transfer student will be officially enrolled in any Jackson County School until a determination is made that the student is eligible to attend school within the system from which he/she is requesting transfer.  The enrolling Jackson County School must receive all required documents for official enrollment including an established district residence.

Transferring students will not be prevented from attending school on a temporary basis and  participating in any academic or extracurricular school activities for which he/she is otherwise eligible.

• Children entering KINDERGARTEN must be FIVE years old on or before September 2.
• Children entering FIRST GRADE must be SIX years old on or before September 2.

A child enrolling in school for the first time in either kindergarten or first grade must present the following documents prior to enrollment:

• an official birth certificate
• valid social security number
• current immunization form
• proof of residence (such as utility billing with an address)
• guardianship papers (When circumstances dictate, the parent/guardian must also provide proof of custody in the form of court documents.  In addition, the parent/guardian will sign a statement certifying legal custody.  Power of Attorney is not proof of legal guardianship.)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act of 2001, all homeless, migratory, and limited English proficient children must have equal access to the same free appropriate public education, including public preschool education, provided to other children and youth.  The enrollment of homeless, migrant, and limited English proficient children and youth shall not be denied or delayed due to any of the the following barriers:

• Lack of birth certificate
• Lack of school records or transcripts
• Lack of immunization or health records
• Lack of proof of residency
• Lack of transportation
• Guardianship or custody requirements

• proof of residence
• recent report card or release from last school attended
• current immunization form
• guardianship papers, if applicable

Once residence and custody are established, the student may be temporarily enrolled pending receipt of student records from the previous school(s), a copy of a certified birth certificate, and a valid social security card.

Students will only be allowed to transfer from one school in the Jackson County School System to another Jackson County school at the beginning of a semester or term unless a residency change has occurred.  This applies to all Jackson County Schools.

Immunization certificates, required by Alabama law, must be presented to a school official before a child can enroll in a public school.  Certificates are available from local physicians and/or local health departments.

Only students presenting a Certificate of Medical Exemption or a Certificate of Religious Exemption are excused from this requirements.