Schools & childcare, sourced

Enrolling in a public school

Every district sets its own document list, so start with your district's enrollment page.

• Districts must verify a student's age and residency in the district. CDE says districts “need not and should not ask about the citizenship or immigration status of students or their parents or guardians” to establish residency, and that state law bars collecting Social Security numbers unless required.Source: CDE: residency guidance →
• CDE guidance says a district can accept a range of documents for residency and age — there's no single statewide list. Ask the district what else they'll accept if you don't have the usual paperwork.Source: CDE: newcomer students →
• Irvine USD asks for online registration, two forms of residency verification (a lease or mortgage plus a utility bill, pay stub or government mail with matching addresses inside the district) and proof of age (a birth record, passport, baptism certificate or parent affidavit), plus immunization records.Source: Irvine USD: enrollment documents →
• Capistrano USD says enrollment isn't complete until the school reviews your information and verifies residency. It accepts a birth record, passport, baptismal or hospital record, or a proof-of-age affidavit, and says it will not require documents indicating national origin or immigration status exclusively.Source: Capistrano USD: enrollment →
• San Diego Unified asks for a birth certificate, baptismal certificate or passport showing the parent's name, current proof of residency (a utility bill, rental agreement, mortgage document or military housing orders) and immunization records. Enrollment is completed online, and the district's enrollment line is (619) 260-2410.Source: San Diego Unified: requirements →
• LAUSD enrolls through its online One Enrollment system; check lausd.org/enrollnow for the current document list and dates.Source: LAUSD: enroll now →

TK and kindergarten ages (2026-27)

• CDE: every district must offer transitional kindergarten to children who will have their fourth birthday by September 1 of the school year. For 2026-27 that means born on or before Sept 1, 2022. A child who turns 4 after September 1 can't be enrolled in TK.Source: CDE: TK fiscal FAQ →
• Kindergarten: a child must turn 5 on or before September 1 to be admitted at the start of the year. School attendance is only compulsory from age 6, so kindergarten itself is not required.Source: CDE: kindergarten FAQ →
• Enrollment windows differ by district and year. For 2026-27, Irvine USD opened enrollment March 6, Capistrano opened new-student registration January 5, 2026 with School of Choice applications in February, and LAUSD opened in April. We couldn't find published 2027-28 dates yet — expect a similar winter or spring window and check your district.Source: Irvine USD: enroll →

Meals, language support and school choice

• California Universal Meals: public schools serving TK–12 must provide two meals (breakfast and lunch) free each school day to students who ask, regardless of family income.Source: CDE: Universal Meals →
• Districts identify English learners with a Home Language Survey at enrollment. Students whose primary language isn't English take the Initial ELPAC within their first 30 days.Source: CDE: English learner parent info →
• To attend a school outside your district you need an interdistrict transfer approved by both districts. If it's denied you can appeal to your county office of education within 30 days. Some districts (“Districts of Choice”) accept transfers without regard to academic or athletic ability.Source: CDE: district transfers →
• Capistrano USD takes School of Choice applications online in February for the following school year, after you enroll at your home school to get a student ID.Source: Capistrano USD: School of Choice →

Immunizations for school

• Schools check immunization records before a student is admitted. The requirements are on our health page and on the state's page below; personal-belief exemptions are no longer allowed.Source: CDPH: TK–12 requirements →

Childcare

• Licensed child care centers and family child care homes are overseen by the state's Community Care Licensing division. Look up a provider and read its inspection reports in the licensing facility search.Source: CDSS: child care licensing →
• Resource & referral agencies give free help finding child care by ZIP code (rrnetwork.org). Orange County: Children's Home Society of California, 714-543-2273. San Diego County: YMCA Childcare Resource Service, 619-521-3070. Los Angeles County has several, including Child Care Resource Center (818-717-1000), Crystal Stairs (323-299-8998) and Connections For Children (310-452-3325).Source: CDE: Los Angeles R&R list →
• Subsidized child care programs include CalWORKs child care and the Alternative Payment Program for eligible low-income families. Ask your county social services office or a resource & referral agency what you qualify for.Source: CDSS: subsidized programs →