Registration

Are you a returning family?
Registration for returning students entering grades 1-8, entering kindergarten if they attended First Steps Preschool, and returning to First Steps is completed through the Parent Portal.

• Log into the Parent Portal and choose "Forms" on the left-hand side of the Home Page.
• Follow the step-by-step instructions. (en español) 
• Information on creating an account or using the Portal.

Are you new to the District with a child ready to enter grades 1st - 8th or do you have a new kindergarten student?

• Identify which school your child will attend by entering your address into our School Locator.
• Once you know which school your child will attend, fill out the Initial Registration Worksheet to begin the registration process.  
• Be sure you have a certified copy of your child's birth certificate. PLEASE NOTE: if the birth certificate is in a language other than English, you must have it officially translated.
• Once your Parent Portal account is set up, follow the step-by-step instructions. (en español) 

Registration does require the submission of several forms. You'll be asked to upload these forms during the registration process. If you are unable to do so, you may bring any forms to your school office. 

For New Families: What happens next?

• Once this form is submitted, the school will email you information about how to set up a Parent Portal account.
• Once your Parent Portal account is set up, complete the rest of your registration through this portal. If you have technical difficulties or need assistance, email your school.

Our Parent Portal includes a “Required Documents” section. If you can, provide scanned or digital copies of your child's birth certificate and the proof of residency, as requested. In any case, you will need to provide these before your registration is approved. If you are unable to provide scanned or digital documents, you may bring your documents to the school office. 

What do I need to have on hand to register online?

You will need to have a birth certificate, proof of District residency, and completed health information forms, if possible. If it is not possible to submit completed forms at registration, please note that students can not start the school year without submitting completed forms.

An important message about residency.
Students attending District 63 schools must legally reside within the District’s boundaries. It is a criminal offense to enroll a non-resident student, except as allowed by law. Public school districts are supported by local tax dollars, and falsifying residency is an added burden on our taxpayers. D63 checks the residency of all new and returning students in May each year using a public records database called CLEAR Batch. Families may receive an email from the District requesting additional information in order to enroll their student(s).

Documents required for registration:

• Category I (One document required)
  • Most recent property tax bill AND proof of payment, e.g., canceled check or Form 1098 (homeowners)
  • Mortgage papers (homeowners)
  • Signed and dated lease AND proof of last month’s payment, e.g., canceled check or receipts (renters)
  • Letter of residence from the landlord in lieu of lease
  • Letter of residence to be used when the person seeking to enroll a student is living with a District resident
    • Contact the school office for the form and additional information.
• Category II (Two documents showing the proper address are required)
  • Driver’s license
  • State of Illinois ID Card
  • Vehicle registration
  • Voter registration
  • Most recent cable television and/or credit card bill
  • Current bank statement
  • Current public aid card
  • Current homeowners/renters insurance policy and premium payment receipt
  • Most recent gas, electric, and/or water bill
  • Receipt for moving van rental

CLEAR: Establishing Student Residency

• Registration for the next school year opens early in April. Each March, the District runs the CLEAR batch program, incorporating all registered students. Once the CLEAR Batch process is complete, families may be required to submit additional residency information. This can happen for two reasons:
  • CLEAR Batch identified inconsistent or insufficient public records for that family
  • The family may have been randomly selected to provide additional documentation.

If we were unable to verify your residency, or you were randomly selected, you will be asked to provide proof of residency during registration.

The first step is to identify which school your child will attend. If you are new to D63, you may call the District office at 847.299.1900 for information about where your child will attend school. You may also use the School Locator Map application.  Click on the map to access the school locator application. 

Download a high-resolution PDF

 

How are fees established?  
Fees are approved every year by the Board of Education. They help cover a very small portion of the overall cost of materials and services for students. Review the fee list.

Do you take credit cards?
Yes. You can pay with a credit card online in your PushCoin account.  You can also do so at your child's school office.

When are fees due?  
Fees are due as soon as they are assessed in your PushCoin account.  For returning students, fees will be assessed soon after registration opens.  Fees for optional items (busing, athletics) will be assessed once participation is confirmed.  New students will be assessed fees and invoiced once their registration is approved.

We moved into District 63 in the middle of the school year. Do I still have to pay for the full-year registration cost?
Some fees are prorated based on when your child starts school such as Book / Materials Fee, Technology Fee, and the Universal Fee. 

• If the student starts school between November 1 but no later than the end of February, the student will only have to pay two-thirds of the full cost of the fees.
•  If the student starts school on or after March 1, the student will only have to pay one-third of the full cost of the fees. 
• The amount due is automatically calculated and assessed in your child's PushCoin account.  

I believe my child is owed a refund. How can I claim it?

Please review our District's refund policy and procedures.   

What if my child qualifies for a fee waiver?
Please refer to our Fee Waiver Information. 

• Apollo School - 847.827.6231 at registration.apo@emsd63.org
• Gemini Middle School - 847.827.1181 at registration.gem@emsd63.org
• Mark Twain School - 847.296.5341 at registration.twa@emsd63.org
• Melzer School - 847.965.7474 at registration.mel@emsd63.org
• Nelson School - 847.965.0050 at registration.nel@emsd63.org
• Washington School - 847.965.4780 at registration.was@emsd63.org
• Early Learning Center - 847.745.6487 at firststeps@emsd63.org
• District Office - 847.299.1900 at district411@emsd63.org

With the start of a new school year just around the corner, the Cook County Clerk's office has released a new video detailing how to get a birth certificate.

There are five ways to obtain a birth certificate: in person at the downtown Vital Records office or one of the five suburban courthouses; by mail; at a currency exchange; online; or by phone. Anyone requesting a birth certificate must be 18 years old or be a parent whose name appears on the birth record. More information can be found at cookcountyclerk.com/vitalrecords

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