First Day of School

First Day of School
Posted on 07/19/2017

Summer is a time of transition for many families, and it can be a time of anticipation for students and parents who will start a new school in the fall. Luckily, Missouri Parent has done the legwork. These tips will make public school enrollment a piece of cake for your family!

Tip #1: Find Your Child’s School
If you’re new to Missouri public schools, or if you’re trying to find your child’s school in a new community following a family move, the Missouri School Directoryonline is a huge help! It allows you to search for schools by district, county, or legislative district.

Learn More: Finding Your Child’s School

Tip #2: Gather the Right Documentation
It’ll save you time and stress if you show up to your child’s school enrollment appointment with the correct documentation on-hand.

This post explains the identification, medicalacademic, and behavioral records you should bring when you enroll your child in school. Be prepared, though, that your child’s school may also ask you to complete additional documentation like technology assessments or language questionnaires.

Tip #3: Ensure Your Child’s Immunizations are Up to Date
Missouri public schools have published a recommended immunization schedule based on the suggestions of leading disease, pediatric, and family organizations across the country. Learn more about the vaccines that public schools students are required to receive in this post.

Tip #4: Meet the Teacher & Attend the Open House
Most Missouri schools offer the chance for parents and students to meet the teacher and the principal before school starts. If you’re new to the district, this is a great way to begin building relationships with the adults your child will interact with daily at school. Open houses are also a great way to get your child comfortable with his or her new school building, classroom, and teachers.

Learn More: Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences

Tip #5: Don’t Let In-State Transfers Intimidate You!
We know that a mid-year school transfer can be stressful for you and your family, so we wrote this post explaining the basic in-state transfer process for you. Luckily, Missouri has streamlined in-state transfers to make them easier for families like yours.

Summer is a time of transition for many families, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be a time when parents and kids feel overwhelmed by the stress of school enrollment or transfer. We hope that these five tips help make your child’s school enrollment a piece of cake this fall!

Missouri Parent is a free service for all Missouri parents and others with an interest in public education. Part of goal at Missouri Parent is to provide information that will help you help your child succeed in Missouri public schools. Bookmark Missouri Parent News and connect with us on Facebook and Twitterfor daily updates related to your child’s Missouri public school education!