ACADEMICS / PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

Registration Requirements
Students entering kindergarten must be five years of age by January 1 of the current school year. Parents have the option of enrolling a child in public school as late as six years of age. However, this request must be made in person at the school district office. Registration documents include a certified birth certificate for the child and proof of residency (examples include a utility bill, mortgage verification, or rental agreement). If the student is transferring from another school, recent transcripts are also recommended. All required immunizations must be current and complete before a student can attend school. The only exceptions are students who are currently engaged in the immunization process and must wait before receiving the next immunization. The Connecticut State Department of Education provides a wealth of information on its website.

Connecticut State
Department of Education
860-713-6543
www.sde.ct.gov

Department of Education
Commonly Requested Numbers

Bureau of Student Assessment
860-713-6860

Connecticut Accountability for Learning Initiative
860-713-6801

Early Childhood Education
860-713-6740

Educational Programs & Services
860-807-2071

Special Education
860-713-6910

 

Immunization Information
For specific answers to questions about immunization requirements, contact your local school district or the school nursing department on the state level. You can learn more about the state laws and requirements through the Department of Public Health.

School Nursing Department
860-807-2108
www.sde.ct.gov

State Department of Public Health
860-509-8000
https://portal.ct.gov/DPH  

 

Open Choice
Connecticut provides Open Choice in metropolitan areas, a program that allows urban students to attend public schools in nearby suburban towns. Suburban and rural students can also attend public schools in a nearby urban center. The program currently operates in the Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport metropolitan areas. For more information, contact:

Public School Choice
860-713-6561
www.sde.ct.gov

 

Magnet & Charter Schools
Magnet schools serve Pre-K through 12th grade students by providing a publicly funded school that features an educational theme or focus. The state has also developed charter schools, defined as nonsectarian public schools organized as a nonprofit corporation and operated independently from the local/regional board of education.

Charter/Magnet School Information
860-713-6574
www.sde.ct.gov

 

Regional Educational Service Centers
Connecticut established six regional service centers, each one with a mission to promote the success of the area school districts and their communities by providing educational and related services. Each regional center website provides information and links to member school districts and schools. For information on regional programs in your community or local area, including special education and magnet schools, contact:

North Haven
203-498-6800
www.aces.org

Trumbull
203-365-8800
www.ces.k12.ct.us

Hampton
860-455-0707
www.eastconn.org

Hartford Area
860-247-CREC
www.crec.org

Litchfield Area
860-567-0863
203-791-1904
www.educationconnection.org

Old Lyme
860-434-4800
www.learn.k12.ct.us

 

Regional Vocational-Technical
School System
Nearly 20 schools make up the largest secondary school system in Connecticut, offering state-of-the-art training to students of all ages. For more information, contact:

Vocational/Technical Schools
800-822-6832
www.cttech.org