Free school regardless of status, no SSN needed, documents and substitutes, deadlines, vaccines, English support and free meals.
By Ruben Sevumyants, founder of Pomogu
Getting children into school is one of the first things families do after a move. Here is what schools may and may not ask for, how fast they must act and what help your child is entitled to, based on what federal and state education agencies publish.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Federal rule. The U.S. Department of Education says districts may not deny any child an education because of immigration status. Prohibiting or discouraging enrollment because a child or parent is not a citizen or has no immigration documents violates federal law.
New York: free public school for young people over 5 and under 21 without a high school diploma, in the district where they live.
New Jersey: free public school for students ages 5 to 20 who live in the district.
Pennsylvania: children are school age until they graduate or until the end of the term in which they turn 21.
New York: no Social Security card or number, and nothing that would reveal the child's or parents' immigration status, such as visas.
New Jersey: no SSN, no citizenship or immigration documents and no income tax returns.
Pennsylvania: no SSN, visa or immigration status. The state says schools may never ask families for immigration documents, at enrollment or any other time.
Proof of age
New York: a birth certificate or baptism record. If neither is available, a passport, including a foreign one, and then other records, such as a consular ID or hospital records.
New Jersey: a certified birth certificate or other proof of identity, but missing it can't stop enrollment. You have 30 days after your child starts to provide it.
Pennsylvania: any one of: a birth certificate, baptismal record, valid passport, prior school record with the date of birth, or a notarized statement from a parent or relative.
Proof of residency
New York: districts must accept many kinds of proof, including a lease, a letter from your landlord or the person you live with, a letter from a social worker or religious leader who knows where you live, a pay stub, a utility or cell phone bill, a library card or a letter from a government agency. Schools should not turn you away because you have no lease or driver's license.
New Jersey: the district must consider all the evidence you offer, such as landlord letters, affidavits, bills and government letters, and can't reject you for lacking one particular document.
Pennsylvania: any one of: a deed, a lease, or a utility, internet, credit card or bank statement, tax bill, insurance document or government mail from the past three months.
Living with relatives or friends? All three states have a sworn statement or affidavit process for this. Missing school records can't delay enrollment either; in New York City, a child without records is placed by age.
Children who are homeless or in temporary housing, including families doubled up with others, must be enrolled immediately even without documents.
New York: your child starts the next school day, or as soon as practicable. The district then has three business days to review your documents. If it finds your child isn't a resident, it must explain in writing and tell you how to appeal.
New Jersey: enrollment happens immediately, even if information is incomplete, unless the case is a clear, uncontested denial.
Pennsylvania: normally the next business day and no later than five business days, once you provide proof of age, residency and immunizations, a parent registration statement and the Home Language Survey.
Bring any vaccination records you have, even in another language. If records are missing, your child's doctor can set up a catch-up schedule, and a blood test can sometimes show immunity.
New York: a child arriving from another country may attend for up to 30 days while the family makes a good-faith effort to get records or shots. A child who has had the first dose of each required vaccine and is waiting for the next ones may stay in school.
New Jersey: students from out of state or abroad get 30 days to provide records. After that, a child may attend provisionally with at least one dose of each required vaccine, staying on schedule.
Pennsylvania: a student moving in gets 30 days to provide records. Otherwise, a child needs all single-dose vaccines and the next dose of any series within five school days, or a doctor's written schedule.
Every new family fills out a home language survey. If another language is spoken at home, the school checks your child's English.
New York: this must be done within 10 school days. You get written notice in your preferred language, an orientation before final placement, and bilingual education where available or English as a New Language at minimum. The state questionnaire is available in Russian.
New Jersey: you get dated written notice in a language you understand within 30 days, or 14 days if your child enrolls mid-year. You may decline the program.
Pennsylvania: identification takes up to 30 calendar days from the start of school, or 14 days mid-year, and you may refuse the program.
Pennsylvania requires schools to give parents all important information, such as enrollment papers, report cards and discipline notices, in a language they understand. New York City parents have the right to free translation and interpretation: ask the parent coordinator or principal, use the request form on the language access page, or show a Russian "I Speak" card.
Kindergarten through grade 8: find your zoned school by address and register there.
High school, or no zoned school: enroll through a Family Welcome Center, in person or by virtual appointment.
Documents: proof of age, immunization records and report cards if available, and two proofs of address. Forms don't need to be notarized.
MySchools: the city's online account for applying to 3-K, pre-K, kindergarten, middle and high school and checking waitlists. Family Welcome Centers can help with it.
New York City: free breakfast, lunch and after-school meals for all public school students, no application needed.
New York State: since 2025–26, schools in the federal meal programs must serve breakfast and lunch free to all students.
New Jersey: for 2026–27, expanded state income limits make more families eligible for free meals. Fill out the school meals application.
Pennsylvania: schools in the School Breakfast Program serve breakfast free to all students.
New York: NYSED's Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages, if English learner rights aren't respected. NYC families can use Family Welcome Centers.
New Jersey: a family that disagrees with a residency decision may appeal to the Commissioner of Education.
Pennsylvania: the Department of Education's School Services Office helps resolve enrollment disputes.
U.S. Department of Education, equal access: ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/protecting-students/equal-rights-to-public-education
New York residency: nysed.gov/student-support-services/residency
New York English learners: nysed.gov/bilingual-ed/ell-identification-placementhome-language-questionnaire
New York free meals: cn.nysed.gov/content/new-york-state-universal-free-meals
NYC new students: schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/new-students
NYC Family Welcome Centers: schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers
NYC MySchools: myschools.nyc
NYC immunizations: schools.nyc.gov/school-life/health-and-wellness/immunizations
NYC language help: schools.nyc.gov/hello
New Jersey residency: nj.gov/education/residency
New Jersey immigrant students' rights: nj.gov/education/security/studentrights
Pennsylvania enrollment: pa.gov/agencies/education/resources/policies-acts-and-laws/basic-education-circulars-becs/purdons-statutes/enrollment-of-students
Pennsylvania English learners: pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/elementary-and-secondary-education/curriculum/educating-english-learners
Ruben Sevumyants, Pomogu — pomogusa.com