When you are ready to enroll your student, it is a good idea to pull together the following documents:

• An original birth certificate
• Immunization records
• Proof of address
• Parent identification, such as a driver’s license or passport
• Student records or transcripts

If you live within the district of the public school you choose, you may enroll your child at any time by visiting the school corporation’s central office.

If you are interested in a magnet school within your district, these schools typically have an application process for families, which may include a portfolio, audition, and/or admission exam. Check with the individual school and/or central office to learn about specific requirements.

If you are interested in a traditional public school in another district, you may check to see if the district will accept your student as a transfer. Every district has different enrollment procedures for transfer students, so contact them directly to get specific information. Fees and restrictions may apply, and transportation may not be provided.

Starting in December, most charter schools accept applications for the following school year. Some schools make their application available on their website.

You will need to complete the application process with the school directly, and it is a good idea to contact them early to learn about any deadlines or other requirements.

If a charter school has more applicants than available spots, they are required to fill the spots through a random selection process called a lottery.

If one student in your family already attends the school, they are required to give your student and any of their siblings a preference over new applicants. Current charter school students must fill out a re-enrollment form each year to let the school know if they plan to attend the next year.

Each private school will have its own deadlines and procedures for applying. Private schools may have admission requirements that your student must meet to be accepted.

The best strategy is to contact the school in the spring to see what will be required to enroll in the fall.

Remember that if you qualify for financial assistance, all official paperwork must be filled out at the school when you enroll your child.

There are a variety of virtual schools serving Indiana students. Each of these schools has an enrollment form you can access online.

Review the available schools and contact the virtual school directly to learn about its enrollment process, deadlines, and requirements.