Start of School Year is almost here - maybe sooner than you realize (credit)

[otowi]

As an educator, just wanted to offer a friendly public service announcement for folks thinking of moving here - Colorado districts each set their own start dates but the first day of school is nearly always in August, not September, and for some students they may be heading back to school as early as late July.

If you are planning to move, please check the start dates where you are heading and factor this into your planning - it can be very stressful and hard on students to miss the first days of school and start out the school year playing catch up. Every year we always have some students who show up about a month late - sometimes because the parents think it is only going to be a week or so late not realizing the date differences. But when students come that late, they end up in an auditing situation - they can end up with no credit for the whole semester because they have missed so much school already they are unable to cover enough content in the time left - that can often be avoided by at least getting them started in the district you're coming from even if the student will only be there for a short time rather than holding them out for an extended summer vacation due to the pending move.

Also, if your student will be a junior or senior in high school, please consider that graduation requirements vary by state and district and your student may need at least an entire school year to take classes required here that were not required where you are coming from. If it is possible to not have a student change systems during senior year this is usually much better for the student.

If your family is living in a doubled-up situation by staying at someone else's home or camping, according to the McKinney-Vento act this is classified as homelessness for services from the school districts including expedited free/reduced lunch, etc.

Also, check that vaccinations are up to date and bring records with you. School districts you are moving to can provide information on what vaccinations are required.

[Katarina Witt]

^^Good advice. Re: the vaccines, the requirements are the same for every district in Colorado plus all private schools. This is it in a nutshell: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdp...-immunizations
If you have been following the CDC recommended immunization schedule, your child should be up to date, but it's always a good idea to check.