What do I need to enroll my child in school in Florida?

The immunization form, DH 680, must be filled in by a licensed Florida physician, advanced practice registered nurse or county health department, from your child's complete shot history, so bring that history when you move. The health exam must have been done within one year before enrolling, by a provider licensed in the United States; the state's form is DH 3040, and a comparable form from another state is accepted. A school may allow up to 30 school days to turn the exam in. The Department of Health proposed changes to the required shots in 2026, so check its school immunization requirements page for the current list.

Proof of age is the child's birth certificate, or another document Florida law accepts, such as a passport. Proof of address is set by each district: Brevard Public Schools, for example, asks for two proofs of residency along with the shot record, the birth certificate and a physical from the last 12 months. A child who turns 5 on or before September 1 may start kindergarten, and a child who is 6 by February 1 must attend school. A parent may claim a religious exemption from shots in writing, a doctor may grant a permanent medical exemption, and a student moving in from another county may be given 30 school days to bring the records.

The Florida Department of Education grades every school A through F each year; look a school up on its Know Your Schools site, edudata.fldoe.org. Under controlled open enrollment, a parent may enroll a child in any public school in the state that has room, and the district may, but need not, provide transportation. Families may also apply for a Family Empowerment or Florida Tax Credit scholarship through a scholarship funding organization, Step Up For Students or the AAA Scholarship Foundation; the Tax Credit scholarship no longer has an income limit.

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