Update 3/3/2010
Kindergarten Registration/ School Enrollment
Guidelines Rockbridge County Schools
A child must be age 5 on or before September 30 of the school year they intend to
enroll in Kindergarten.
An official certified copy of the child’s birth record must be provided. (A photocopy of
the child’s birth certificate will not meet this requirement). If a certified birth certificate
cannot be provided see page 2 of JEC revised 5/07 of the Rockbridge County Schools
Policy Manual for further action.
See JEC revised 5/07 in the Rockbridge County Schools Policy Manual for details on
residency requirements for admission to Rockbridge County Schools
Physical examination and immunization are required for school enrollment, pursuant
to the Code of Virginia at 22.1-270, students shall not be permitted to attend school
without documentation of a comprehensive physical exam performed within the 12
months prior to the date the student enters public kindergarten or elementary school.
form can be located at:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/school_entrance_form/school_entra
nce_form.pdf
The Code does not extend a grace period for complying with this
regulation. Two exceptions exist to this requirement: homeless
students and those whose parents object due to religious belief.
Homeless students are to be enrolled and immediately referred to the
local school division homeless liaison for assistance in complying
with entrance requirements. Parents objecting to a physical exam
based upon religious belief must provide the school division with a
written statement that the child is in good health and free from
communicable or contagious disease.
There is no legal requirement for a physical exam for students
entering grades 6-12.
Certain prescribed immunizations are required for a child to enroll or attend public
school in Virginia as outlined in School & Day Care Minimum Immunization
Requirements, Virginia Department of Health
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/immunization/requirements.htm. Parents are
responsible for providing documentation that all required immunizations are up-to-date,
completed, or a medical or religious exemption has been obtained. These include:
Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis (DTaP, DTP, or Tdap). A
minimum of 4 doses. Effective July 1, 2006, a booster dose of
Tdap vaccine is required for all children entering the 6th grade,
if at least five years have passed since the last dose of tetanuscontaining vaccine.
Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccine - This vaccine is
required ONLY for children up to 60 months of age. Unvaccinated
children between the ages of 15 and 60 months are only required to
have one dose of vaccine.
Hepatitis B Vaccine - A complete series of 3 doses of hepatitis B
vaccine is required for all children. However, the FDA has approved a
2-dose schedule ONLY for adolescents 11-15 years of age AND
ONLY when the Merck Brand (RECOMBIVAX HB) Adult Formulation
Hepatitis B Vaccine is used. If the 2-dose schedule is used for
adolescents 11-15 years of age it must be clearly documented on the
school
form.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) - Effective October 1, 2008,
a complete series of 3 doses of HPV vaccine is required for females.
The first dose shall be administered before the child enters the 6th
grade. After reviewing educational materials approved by the
Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parent’s or
guardian’s sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive
the
HPV
vaccine.
Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) Vaccine - A minimum of 2
measles, 2 mumps, and 1 rubella. Second dose of vaccine must be
administered prior to entering kindergarten but can be administered
at any time after the minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 2.
Polio Vaccine -A minimum of 4 doses of polio vaccine. One dose
must be administered on or after the fourth birthday.
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine - All susceptible children born on
and after January 1, 1997, shall be required to have one dose of
chickenpox vaccine administered at age 12 months or older.
Effective March 3, 2010, a second dose must be administered
prior to entering kindergarten but can be administered at any
time after the minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 2.
A child whose immunizations are incomplete may be admitted
conditionally, provided the parent or guardian has documentation at
the time of enrollment indicating that the child has received at least
one dose of the required immunizations and has a written schedule
for completing the remaining doses within 90 calendar days of the
opening of school. The 90-day grace period does not apply to the
Tdap booster as outlined below (Code of Virginia 22.1-271.2B.)
When a student is registered, the parent must provide a sworn statement
about whether the child has been expelled. The statement must indicate
whether the child has been expelled from attending a private school or
another public school in Virginia or a school in another state for an offense
involving weapons, alcohol or drugs, or for willful infliction of injury to
another person.
Project HOPE, a federally funded grant authorized by the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Education Assistance Act, ensures the enrollment, attendance,
and the success of homeless children and youth in school through public
awareness efforts across the commonwealth and subgrants to local school
divisions. Contact the division homeless coordinator to help families obtain
services.