ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Policy J-5.3.30 Admissions

ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Policy J-5.3.30 Admissions

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Admission Requirements

As required by the Code of Virginia and to ensure the welfare of Arlington’s children, all schools in

the Arlington Public Schools from kindergarten through Grade 12 are free to each person of school

age who resides in Arlington County and, with the exception of some students with disabilities, are

enrolled fulltime in the school division.

Pre-K enrollment for qualified students in the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) and Pre-K Special

Education classes are free. Students enrolled in the Montessori and Community Peer Program Pre-K

programs may be subject to fees that are based on a sliding scale for family income as defined in

policy I-1.34 Early Childhood Preschool Programs.

A person is considered school age if they:

1. Have reached their fifth birthday on or before September 30 of the school year and have not

reached their twentieth birthday as of August 1 of the school year in which they wish to enroll;

2. Are an English Learner who:

a. does not speak English as their first language; and

b. entered school in Virginia for the first time after reaching their twelfth birthday; and

c. has not reached twenty-two years of age on or before August 1 of the school year, or

3. Are a Student with Disabilities who:

a. has been identified as a student with disabilities; and

b. who is at least two years of age by September 30; and

c. is no more than twenty-one years of age on September 30.

Every person of school age will be deemed to reside in Arlington County:

When the person is living with a natural parent or parent by legal adoption; or

When, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Virginia § 22.1-360 [the Interstate

Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children], the person is living with a

noncustodial parent or other person standing in loco parentis, not solely for school purposes,

pursuant to a Special Power of Attorney executed under 10 U.S.C. § 1044b [Military powers

of attorney] by the custodial parent; or

When the parents of such a person are deceased and the person is living with a person in loco

parentis who actually resides within the school division; or

When the parents of such person are unable to care for the person and the person is living, not

solely for school purposes, with another person who resides in the school division and is:

a. the court-appointed guardian or has legal custody of the student, as determined by a court

of competent jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia; or

b. acting in loco parentis pursuant to placement of the student for adoption by a person or

entity authorized to do so under the Code of Virginia §63.2-1200; or

c. an adult relative providing temporary kinship care, as the term is defined in the Code of

Virginia §63.2-100 [the full-time care, nurturing, and protection of children by relatives]

[Arlington Public Schools defines relative as a person connected with another by blood or

affinity].

When the person is living in the school division, not solely for school purposes, as an

emancipated minor; or

When all or any portion of the building in which such person resides (i) with another person

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as set forth in subdivisions 1 through 4 or (ii) as an emancipated minor as set forth in

subdivision 5 is taxable by the locality in which the school division is located; or

When the person living in the school division is a homeless child or youth, as set forth in this

subdivision, who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Such persons shall

include:

a. children and youths, including unaccompanied youths who are not in the physical custody

of their parents, who

• are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship,

or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds

due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations or in emergency or transitional

shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;

• have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for,

or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or

• are living in parked cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard

housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

b. migratory children, as defined in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of

1965, P.L. 89-10, as amended, who are deemed homeless as they are living in

circumstances set forth in clause (a).

Students Experiencing Homelessness

Arlington Public Schools shall comply with the requirements of Subtitle VII-B of the federal

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.), to ensure that

homeless children and youths shall receive the educational services comparable to those offered to

other public school students. Students experiencing homelessness shall be enrolled in accordance

with School Board Policy J-5.3.1 Homeless Education Services.

Required Admissions Documents

School staff may ask to review pertinent documents in their original form (rather than PDF, faxes, or

copies) as necessary. Staff may make copies of portions of original documents as necessary but will

not retain original documents. Official translation must accompany documents printed in another

language. Students are eligible to attend Arlington Public Schools provided that they:

Present an original or certified copy of a birth certificate or other birth record. In cases where

the birth certificate or other birth record is unavailable, an affidavit is required setting forth

the student’s age, or sufficient information to estimate with reasonable certainty the age of

such child, and explaining the inability to present a certified copy of the birth record; and

Show proof of residency in Arlington. Only original documents will be accepted as proof of

residency. They include:

a. A complete, current lease signed by lessor and lessee or tenant and landlord to show that

the parent/guardian resides in Arlington County; or

b. A deed showing that the parent/guardian owns a home and resides in Arlington County

or, if the deed is not available, settlement documents showing the home has been

purchased; or

c. A complete, current affidavit from the parent/guardian showing that the student resides in

Arlington, and an affidavit from the owner or lessee of the residence to show that a family

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and student reside with them in Arlington County (Forms A and B-Residency Statement

of Parents/Guardians and Statement of Arlington resident). Forms A and B are only valid

for one academic year and must be refiled between July 1 and the beginning of the school

year or the student shall be withdrawn from Arlington Public Schools. The resident’s deed

or lease agreement must accompany all Forms A and B. Forms A and B should be filed at

the local school.

Show documents which support proof of residency such as: current federal, state and/or

property tax returns, documentation of financial assistance from Arlington County, current

payroll withholding statements, vehicle registration showing parent’s name, or current utility

bill (within thirty days of enrollment date).

Determination of Residency

The enrolling office (school or Welcome Center) has the initial responsibility for determining if the

student is a resident of Arlington County. If residency cannot be determined or is questionable, the

Chief of School Support is responsible for making the determination of residency. In cases where there

are questions regarding residency, a home visit may be required.

The children of applicants providing false information on residency documents may be immediately

withdrawn from Arlington Public Schools if they do not meet the residency requirements in this policy.

In accordance with the Code of Virginia §22.1-264.1, any person who knowingly makes a false

statement concerning the residency of a child, as determined by the Code of Virginia §22.1-3, in a

particular school division or school attendance zone, for the purposes of (i) avoiding the tuition charges

authorized by the Code of Virginia §22.1-5 or (ii) enrollment in a school outside the attendance zone in

which the student resides, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor and shall be liable to the school

division in which the child was enrolled as a result of such false statements for tuition charges, pursuant

to the Code of Virginia §22.1-5, for the time the student was enrolled in such school division.

Confirmation of Residency

At any time, Arlington Public Schools staff may ask to review current versions pertinent documents in

their original form (rather than PDF, faxes, or copies) as necessary to confirm residency. Staff may

make copies of portions of original documents as necessary but will not retain original documents.

Visitors

Children visiting Arlington are not considered to reside in Arlington.

Foreign Exchange Students

Foreign Exchange Students are admitted in accordance with School Board Policy M-2 Foreign Exchange

Student Programs.

Health

Students entering Arlington Public Schools and Pre-K Programs for the first time must have a

comprehensive physical examination of a scope prescribed by the State Health Commissioner performed

by a qualified licensed physician no earlier than 12 months prior to the date of the child’s entry. The

physician’s report of that examination must be placed in the school records. This physical examination

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report shall be made available upon request to any official of the state or local health department. Any

student may be exempt whose parent/guardian objects on religious grounds if:

The student shows no evidence of illness.

The parent/guardian states in writing that to the best of their knowledge the student is in

good health and free of communicable disease.

Every student shall, prior to entry, furnish a certificate from a licensed physician or health department

official certifying that the student has those immunizations required by law. Any student may be exempt

whose parent/guardian objects on the grounds that the administration of the immunizing agents conflicts

with their religious tenets or practices, unless the State Board of Health has declared an emergency or

epidemic. To do so, the parent or guardian must furnish the school with a notarized statement of the parent’s

or guardian’s objections. Any student may be exempt if the immunization would be detrimental to their

health. In that case, the student’s physician must submit a written statement that the administration of the

immunizing agents would be detrimental to the health of the student.

Students entering Arlington Public Schools, including the Pre-K program, for the first time must provide

written proof of a negative risk assessment for tuberculosis infection or the results of a Tuberculin Skin

Test (TST) done within the 12 months prior to entry into school.

Should there be an outbreak or potential epidemic of a vaccine-preventable disease, a student who has

been exempted from a physical examination or immunization requirements may be required to take

protective measures until the danger has passed.

Special Admissions Situations

Students enrolled in private or parochial schools

Students who are enrolled in private or parochial schools are not permitted to participate in classes or

activities sponsored by the public schools.

Students receiving home instruction

Admissions and services for students receiving home instruction are provided according to School

Board Policy J-5.3.2 Home Instruction.

Students with Individual Educational Programs

Students with disabilities who are enrolled in private or parochial schools or home instruction programs

and whose Individualized Educational Programs call for selected services may receive those services

in the Arlington Public Schools.

Children of Persons on Active Military Duty

In accordance with the requirements of Va. Code 22.1-7.2(B), any student residing on a military

installation or in military housing within the school division, may, upon the request of his or her parent,

be enrolled in any appropriate school in the division in which space is available. Transportation will not

be provided for school assignments outside of the attendance area in which the student lives, and a

student may be disqualified from attending another school in the event of disciplinary action.

In accordance with the requirements of Va. Code 22.1-3(B), school-age children of persons on active

military duty who have been attending Arlington Public schools free of charge will not be charged

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tuition upon such child's relocation pursuant to orders his or her parent receives to relocate to a new

duty station, or to be deployed, through the end of the school year. In addition, children of persons on

active military duty who will be relocating to Arlington pursuant to military orders received, and who

are otherwise eligible to attend Arlington Public Schools, will not be charged tuition.

Children of persons who are on active military duty who were attending Kindergarten in their previous

school may be admitted to Arlington Public Schools, even if they have not yet met minimum age

requirements. Families should contact the Early Childhood Office for readiness evaluation and

guidance on forms and documents required for admission. (Ref. Va. Code 21.1-199 C.)

Children of Families with Special Circumstances

Students who are not residents of Arlington will not be accepted for enrollment and are not eligible for

services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 except:

1. as required by the Code of Virginia; or

2. as required by the Foreign Exchange Program; or

3. as participants in the Non-Resident Arlington Public Schools Employee Tuition Initiative; or

4. as provided in this policy.

Families who have been bona fide residents of Arlington County within the last school year and whose

children had been enrolled in Arlington Public Schools (APS), but because of extenuating

circumstances have voluntarily or involuntarily been temporarily displaced and have relocated to within

30 miles of Arlington County, with the demonstrated intentions of returning to Arlington County within

180 school calendar days, shall be regarded as Arlington County residents for the purposes of this

policy. Implementation shall be in accordance with the provisions and limitations in applicable Policy

Implementation Procedures. Siblings that will be age-eligible to attend public school within the

designated time period stipulated are included under this policy. In order to be considered as residents

under this provision, please refer to Policy Implementation Procedure J-5.3.32 PIP-1 Administrative

Placements for specifics.

Admission of Non-Resident Employees’ Children (Non-Resident Arlington Public Schools

Employee Tuition Initiative)

Arlington Public Schools non-resident employees’ children who are enrolled in Arlington Public

Schools as of October 2015 may continue to attend through high school or until the employee is no

longer employed full-time with Arlington Public Schools. Due to increased enrollment, Arlington

Public Schools employees’ children who reside outside of Arlington County and are not enrolled in

Arlington Public Schools as of October 2015 will not be eligible for enrollment. Siblings of non-

resident students not enrolled as of October 2015 also are not eligible for enrollment.

Before the start of each school year, the Chief of School Support will verify the non-resident

employee’s continued, full-time employment status to confirm a student’s eligibility for continued

enrollment in Arlington Public Schools under this initiative.

This initiative is not part of the transfer process detailed in School Board Policy J-5.3.31 Options and

Transfers, and no Administrative Placement for a student who is an Arlington Public Schools resident

shall be denied on the basis of capacity, at a school in which non-resident employees’ children are

enrolled.

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English Learners

Students with limited English proficiency will be referred to the Welcome Center for assistance in

enrollment, assessment, and placement.

Extenuating Circumstances (appeals)

Under certain extenuating circumstances, Arlington Public Schools may provide educational services

to persons who do not meet the qualifications described in this policy. Requests for an administrative

placement shall be submitted and evaluated according to Policy J-5.3.32 Administrative Placements.

References

Code of Virginia §22.1-3 and §22.1-3.1

School Board Policy J-5.3.1 Homeless Education Services

School Board Policy J-5.3.2 Home Instruction

School Board Policy J-5.3.31 Options and Transfers

School Board Policy J-5.3.32 Administrative Placements

School Board Policy M-2 Foreign Exchange Student Programs

Policy Implementation Procedure I-1.34 Underage Placements

Policy Implementation Procedure J-5.3.32 PIP-1 Administrative Placements

Policy Adoption and Revision History

Adopted March 9, 2017, Effective March 9, 2017

Renumbered (former Policy 25-2.1) effective July 1, 2018

Revised September 6, 2018, Effective September 6, 2018

Amended October 4, 2018, Effective October 4, 2018

Revised June 25, 2020, Effective June 25, 2020

Amended March 16, 2023. Effective March 16, 2023