Basic Procedures

Students enrolling in the District for the first time must present:

1. A certified copy of a birth certificate. When a certified copy of the birth certificate is presented, the school shall promptly make a copy for its records, place the copy in the student’s temporary record, and return the original to the person enrolling the child. Upon the failure of a person enrolling a student to provide a copy of the student’s birth certificate, the principal shall immediately:
   • Notify in writing the person enrolling the student that within 30 days he or she must provide a certified copy of the student’s birth certificate.
   • Enroll the student without a birth certificate.
   • If a person enrolling a student fails to provide a certified copy of the student’s birth certificate within 30 days, the Superintendent/designee shall immediately notify the local law enforcement agency and shall also notify the person enrolling the student in writing that, unless he or she complies within 10 days, the case shall be referred to the local law enforcement authority for investigation.
   • If compliance is not obtained within that 10-day period, the principal shall refer the case to the local law enforcement agency for investigation.
   • The principal shall immediately report to the local law enforcement authority any material received pursuant to this paragraph, which appears inaccurate or suspicious in form or content.
2. Proof of residence, as defined by Board Policy and administrative regulation.
3. Proof of disease immunization or detection and the required physical examination, as required by State law and Board Policy 5130.

The individual enrolling a student shall be given the opportunity to voluntarily state whether the student has a parent or guardian who is a member of a branch of the U. S. Armed Forces and who is either deployed to active duty or expects to be deployed to active duty during the school year. Students who are children of active duty military personnel transferring will be allowed to enter: (a) the same grade level in which they studied at the school from which they transferred, if the transfer occurs during the District’s school year, or (b) the grade level following the last grade completed.

Admission to Kindergarten
A child must be five (5) years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year to enter kindergarten.

Admission to First Grade
A child must be six (6) years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year to enter first grade. Based upon an assessment of the child’s readiness, a child will be allowed to attend first grade if the following conditions are met:

1. he or she attended a non-public preschool, continued his or her education at that school through kindergarten, and
2. was taught in kindergarten by an appropriately certified teacher, and
3. will be 6 years old on or before December 31st of that school year.

Transferring In

The parent/guardian should request from the previous school that the following be forwarded: official transcript, remainder of the school records and a completed good standing form. The student shall be admitted pending the receipt of these records. If the records are not received, the principal or designee shall request the records from the transferring school. If the parent/guardian is unable to present the records, the student shall be admitted and the principal shall request the records from the transferring school.

A student seeking to transfer into the District must serve the entire term of any suspension or expulsion, imposed for any reason by any public or private school, in this or any other state, before being admitted into the District.

The principal or designee shall make the class or grade level assignment, and may accept or reject the transferring school’s recommendations.

Transferring Out

Parents/guardians of students who will be transferring from the district should notify the principal in writing and indicate the date of their last day, new address, and the name and address of the school to which they will be transferring. They must also pay outstanding fees or fines, sign a release form, and return all school-owned property.

The student will receive a transfer form on the last day. All records will be mailed to the new school upon receipt of a release form signed by the parent. 

Parent(s)/guardian(s) will receive prior written notice of the nature and substance of the records proposed to be released and an opportunity to review and copy them.

The principal shall complete a good standing form for any student transferring from the District. Within 10 days of a transfer notification, the principal shall send to the District in which the student will or has enrolled, a completed good standing form, an unofficial record of the student’s grades, and the remainder of the student’s school records. If a transferring student was suspended or expelled for any of the reasons listed previously in this policy, and the period of suspension or expulsion has not expired at the time the student attempts to transfer into another public school, any school student records required to be transferred shall include the date and duration of the suspension or expulsion.

Within 10 days after the student has paid all outstanding fines and fees, the principal shall mail an official transcript of the scholastic records. Any refunds of money paid for fees are handled by the district business office.

Parents wishing to enroll their child(ren) in Woodridge School District 68 must show proof of residency by providing the required number of documents from two different categories: Verification and Proof of Residency

Residency considerations for:

• Active Military
• Homeless Children
   

Relationship to Student and Proof of Identity
Additional documentation is required in the following situations:

• Parents divorced or separated
• Court-ordered permanent guardian
• Statutory short-term guardian
• Foster parent
• Other adult who has assumed and exercises legal responsibility over the student

Director of Special Education Dr. Anne Bowers (630-795-6830) acts as a liaison to facilitate the enrollment and transfer of records of students in the legal custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services when enrolling in or changing schools.

Interactive District & School Boundary Map

Board Policy 5100: Student Assignment

The Board of Education does not allow voluntary transfers within the established attendance areas except in the following two cases:

1. A student is enrolled in, or graduated from, a district site-based program (i.e. Modified Learning Program, K-2 Self-Contained Bilingual, and Transitions) kindergarten through sixth grade,
2. A student has a medical restriction when the necessity of the transfer shall be at the discretion of the Superintendent, or designee.

The Board shall allow the above exceptions subject to certain criteria. Voluntary transfers will not be permitted unless the criteria listed in the Board policy are met.

Parents whose children are taking advantage of this policy at the present time must reapply if they want their children to continue for the following school year.

Anyone seeking to enroll a student in the district must present: the student's birth certificate (original or certified copy issued by the County; hospital copy not accepted) and the parent/guardian's valid passport or photo ID (driver’s license or state-issued ID).

Returning Students

Registration takes place online for returning students and opens in early April for the upcoming school year.

New Students

Registration takes place online for new students and opens in early April for the upcoming school year. Parents are encouraged to pre-register their child(ren) online if moving to the district in the middle of the school year and the student will attend Woodridge 68 school next year.

Parents/guardians of students who transfer into the district can identify the school their student will attend using the interactive district & school boundary map and receive information concerning that school by contacting the school directly. Additional information can be found in the “Transfers” section of this handbook.

Kindergarten

Pre-registration is held for kindergartners in the spring. Children enrolled in the blended preschool program need not attend, but will need to complete returning student registration.

Health Requirements

Illinois School Code requires students to submit a report of physical, dental, and vision examinations and the dates that certain immunizations were received in order to attend school.

Illinois statutes permit public school districts to charge students a fee for the use of textbooks, materials and supplies that are used in the course of a student’s education. Funds are budgeted for general supplies and materials, library materials, equipment, classroom supplies, and other consumable material each year. In addition, an annual budget for technology covers peripheral devices, technology supplies and software licenses used within the school.

The annual registration fee charged to students is intended to cover only a portion of the cost of these items. In general, school districts may not charge tuition to students residing in the district who attend public schools.

Online payments can be made through PowerSchool Parent Portal any day, any time and is the strongly preferred method of payment. Cash and check payments will be accepted on school days between 7:30am-2:00pm in the business office at the District Administrative Center.

The District shall waive all fees assessed by and payable to the district for fees for students whose parents or guardians are unable to afford them according to established standards. The standards for eligibility for a waiver of fees are as follows:

1. The student currently lives in a household that meets the same income guidelines, with the same limits based on household size, that are used for the federal free or reduced meals program;
2. The student’s parents/guardians are veterans or active-duty military personnel with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line; or
3. The student is homeless, as defined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

The Superintendent or designee will give additional consideration where one or more of the following factors are present: Illness in the family; unusual expenses such as fire, flood, storm damage, etc.; unemployment; emergency situations; when one or more of the parents/guardians are involved in a work stoppage.

For more information on free and reduced meals, please see the Food Services section of this handbook.

Board Policy 3220: Waiver of Fees

Contact the school immediately for any changes of address, telephone number, and email address. Promptness is necessary to facilitate communication between home and school.

2026-27 District Calendar

Kindergarten

• 8:20am - 2:55pm (full-day)
• 8:20am - 11:20am (half-day) 

Elementary (Grades 1-6)

• 8:20am - 2:55pm

Junior High (Grades 7-8)

• 8:20am - 3:35pm

Early Arrival
Children who walk to school are expected to time their arrival no earlier than ten minutes before the beginning of school. There will be no playground supervision before 8:10am. Students are not admitted to the buildings prior to this except in inclement weather.

Early Dismissal
If parents/guardians wish to have their children released during school hours, permission must first be granted by the principal or their designee, and the children must be picked up at the office by the parent/guardian. The school will never release a child on the basis of a phone call.

Woodridge 68 is committed to helping all students succeed educationally. An important factor in achieving this goal is for students to be in school on a regular basis. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Starting to build this habit early teaches students right away that going to school every day, on time, is important. Good attendance helps children do well in high school, college, and at work. Too many absences can keep students from succeeding in school and life. Just 18 missed days (2 days per month) - that's 10% of the school year! - can knock students off track.

We understand there are many reasons why students may be absent from school, and we are here to help your child and your family if there are any challenges getting in the way of regular attendance. If your child seems anxious about going to school, please talk to your child’s teacher, the school social worker, or the building principal for advice and strategies on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

Avoid medical appointments and trips when school is in session whenever possible. The District discourages parents or guardians from taking students on vacations during periods when school is in session. Such vacations may disrupt the continuity of a student’s learning and create educational problems. Vacations and extended trips to visit family are unexcused absences.

If your student will miss a day of school, all absences must be reported by 9:00am the day of student absence. Absences can be reported 24 hours a day either online in Parent Portal or by calling the school’s attendance hotline.

Compulsory School Attendance

The parent/guardian of a student who is enrolled must authorize all absences from school and notify the school in advance or at the time of the student’s absence. A valid cause for absence includes illness (including mental or behavioral health of the student), attendance at a verified medical or therapeutic appointment (including a victim services provider), observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, attendance at a civic event, family emergency, other situations beyond the control of the student, other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical safety or health, or other reason as approved by the Superintendent or designee. For students who are parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence, valid cause for absence also includes the fulfillment of a parenting responsibility and addressing circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual violence. Students absent for a valid cause may make up missed homework and classwork in a reasonable timeframe.

Absenteeism

Under certain circumstances, schools may require parents or guardians at their expense to present medical documentation of physical or emotional conditions causing a student’s absence.

The District discourages parents or guardians from taking students on vacations during periods when school is in session. Such vacations may disrupt the continuity of a student’s learning and create educational problems.

The District considers absenteeism excessive when it significantly interferes with a student’s learning, as reflected in academic performance or social development. Excessive absenteeism includes excessive tardiness.

Students who have 10 or more unexcused absences will be exited and have to re-enroll in school upon their return.

Truancy

The District considers a student to be truant who is absent without valid cause for a school day or portion thereof, as defined in Section 26-2a of the Illinois School Code.

Tardiness

Prompt attendance shall be the responsibility of the student and their parents or guardian. Because it reflects a student’s concern for the rights of others, promptness is considered a necessity in school. Excessive tardiness is considered excessive absenteeism.

Read more: Board Policy 5200: Attendance, Absence, Truancy, and Tardiness

Families and communities expect schools to keep their children and youth safe from threats (human-caused emergencies such as crime and violence) and hazards (natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and accidents). In collaboration with the DuPage Regional Office of Education and community partners, Woodridge School District 68 has taken steps to plan for these potential emergencies through the creation of an emergency operations plan.

This basic plan outlines Woodridge 68’s approach to emergency management and operations. It has been developed to assist the district protect its staff and students during an emergency situation. This plan takes an all-hazard approach to emergency management and plans for mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. To ensure security, specifics of the plan are only available internally and with specific community partners (e.g., Woodridge Police Department).

Mission and Goals

The mission of Woodridge School District 68 in an emergency/disaster is to:

1. Protect lives and property
2. Respond to emergencies promptly and properly
3. Coordinate with local emergency operations plans and community resources
4. Aid in recovery from disasters

The goals of Woodridge School District 68 in an emergency/disaster are to:

1. Provide emergency response plans, services, and supplies for all facilities and employees
2. Ensure the safety and supervision of students, faculty, staff and visitors to the school.
3. Restore normal services as quickly as possible
4. Coordinate the use of school personnel and facilities
5. Provide detailed and accurate documentation of emergencies to aid in the recovery process

Board Policy 3520: Safety

Terminology

• Evacuation: When conditions are safer outside than inside a building. Requires all staff and students to leave the building immediately. May also include moving to each building’s off-site evacuation location.  
• Hold In Place And Teach: When there is an incident occurring inside the school (i.e. medical emergency, escalating student). For hazardous material release outdoors with toxic vapors, students and staff are to remain in their classrooms, windows and doors are sealed and all ventilation systems are shut off.
• Secure Building And Teach: When there is a hazard outside the school building and/or when conditions are safer inside a building than outside. Instruction and all normal indoor work activity may continue as scheduled, unless otherwise directed.  
• Violent Critical Incident (VCI)/ALICE: Clear and specific language is used to identify the location of intruder. Staff should utilize the best response option for their circumstance.
• Tornado: Students and staff drop low, take cover under furniture, cover eyes, head with hands and arms and protect internal organs.

Woodridge School District 68 prepares for a variety of emergencies through ISBE mandated drills, annual safety audit meetings, building-level crisis teams, and collaboration with the Woodridge Police Department and Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District.

Emergencies range from weather (tornado, storm) to building-based unsafe situations and even community emergencies. In most instances, district personnel (building or district-level administrators) manage the situation and provide guidance to staff members. However, there could be an emergency situation where outside authorities (police or fire department officials) are the leaders with our administrative staff supporting and following the directions given by others.

In the event it is not safe to remain in a school building but is safe to leave the school, students will be escorted to predetermined emergency shelter locations. With this action, parents will be notified of an off-site reunification location. There will be a high level of security in allowing children to leave the site and reunite with their families, including reviewing identification. Woodridge 68 will make every attempt to communicate with parents. Although difficult to do, parents should remain calm and wait for information and direction from the district.

As Woodridge 68 is prepared, it is also important for families to prepare for potential emergency situations. Below are suggested measures families can take:

• Talk to your child about the possibility of emergencies and that adults will do everything they can to keep them safe.
• Have up-to-date phone numbers and email addresses in PowerSchool so school personnel can keep you informed.
• Keep your emergency contacts in PowerSchool up to date in the event that there is a situation where you cannot get to the reunification site and your child needs to be released to another family member or friend. Let your child know who may pick them up if it isn’t you.

For more information and tips on preparing your child for emergency situations, visit Ready.gov.