Missouri law requires students to enroll in the public school within the school district in which they reside and are domiciled with a parent or legal guardian. A domicile is where the parent or legal guardian intends to permanently reside.
Typically, in order to enroll a student in school, a parent or legal guardian must provide proof of residency. What you need to show as proof of residency varies by district, but it should never create enrollment barriers for students who are district residents. Proof of residency can include things like a utility bill, lease, or other paperwork that shows your address.
However, there are exceptions to these enrollment requirements in Missouri. For example, these requirements do not apply to students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, and students who are orphaned or have only one parent living or whose parents do not contribute to their support.
The United States Supreme Court has held that school districts cannot deny public school enrollment to undocumented immigrants. During enrollment, school districts should not ask questions that could “create a chilling effect and discourage students and families from enrolling in school.” In addition, school districts should not deny a student’s enrollment due to a lack of a birth certificate or social security number.
Please see the linked resources for more information:
- Missouri School Enrollment: A Know-Your-Rights Guide for Students and Caregivers
- Flowchart 1: You’re the Parent of the Student You Are Enrolling
- Flowchart 2: You’re the Caregiver of the Student You Are Enrolling
- Flowchart 3: You’re a Student Enrolling Yourself
- Flowchart 4: Domicile
- Flowchart 5: McKinney Vento
- Flowchart 6: Foster Care
- Residency Exceptions Overview Two-Pager
- 10 Things Parents Wish Homeless Liaisons Knew
- Equal Access to Education Two-Pager (English)
- Equal Access to Education Two-Pager (Spanish)
