How Does The Man Know Which Children Should Be Enrolled In School?

Factual Questions
1

Supposing Mrs. HeyHomie has a baby tomorrow. I imagine that about 4 1/2 years later I’d get a letter from my friends at Springfield Public Schools District 186 saying, in effect: “It’s time to enroll Buford in kindergarten. Please do this soon, or you’ll be hearing from the Truant Officer.”

Now, the last I knew there wasn’t a magic pen at District 186’s offices, recording the names of children born in the area and sending out letters at the appropriate date (like there is at Hogwart’s).

I’m guessing that there is a person at the Sangamon County vital records office whose job it is to notify the local school district of births in the city limits so that the school district knows who its students should be. However, that doesn’t account for parents who move their children into or out of the district between their birth and the time they should enroll in kindergarten.

Furthermore, suppose I have a school-age kid and move to, say, Beverly Hills. If I didn’t enroll him in school, noone would know but me, him and Mrs. HeyHomie. Or are realtors and/or rental brokers expected to inform school districts of children moving into their districts?

Finally, regarding private schools and homeschooling- If I enroll Buford at a private school or homeschool him, is it simply a matter of writing a letter to the district informing them of same?

TIA

2

I don’t think school districts really keep track of this stuff at all to a significant degree. From what I’ve heard it’s always been the parents’ responsibility to drag the rugrats down to the school to register them as students.

3

I recently moved with a 5 year old. I was NOT contacted by the new or the old school district at all. It was all up to me to register the kid.

4

The school district will not contact you. It is up to you to take care of business.

5

My family and I moved extensively from the time that I was born up until my dad retired from the military. By the time I was 15 I had moved 18 times.

Each time we relocated it was up to my parents to make sure we were enrolled in school. While my parents could have easily kept us out for a semester or a year if they so chose, I’m sure the school district would have become involved if and or when we were re-enrolled and they noticed the gap from our transcripts.