THE CENTRAL ENROLLMENT CENTER

QUESTION:

What services are offered at the Central Enrollment Center?

ANSWER:

Student enrollment for grades Pre K-12, work permits, transcripts, School Choice/Lottery, Inter-District Open Enrollment (IOE), processing of Annual Updates for change of address (with or without school change),  Home Education, Health Services for new enrollments, Special Education placement for new enrollments, special needs Pre-K assessments, review of out of country/out of state transcripts and Social Services to assist families new to CCS in overcoming barriers.

QUESTION:

Where is the Central Enrollment Center located?

ANSWER:

The Central Enrollment Center is located at 430 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215, on the Fort Hayes Campus, at the corner of Cleveland Ave. and Jack Gibbs Blvd.

QUESTION:

How do I contact Central Enrollment?

ANSWER:

The phone number for the Central Enrollment Center is 614-365-4011. The fax number is 614-365-4013. The email is centralenrollment@columbus.k12.oh.us 

QUESTION:

What are the hours for the Central Enrollment Center? Are there extended hours?

ANSWER:

The Central Enrollment Center’s hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. During the months of August and September there are extended and weekend hours available. If you do not have the technology or need technology assistance, please bring all necessary enrollment documents and visit the Central Enrollment Center between 8:00 - 4:00 Monday - Friday.  

ENROLLMENTS

QUESTION:

Does the Central Enrollment Center process “all” student enrollments for the CCS District?

ANSWER:

The Central Enrollment Center completes enrollment for Pre-K through-12^th grade.

Enrollment for students “new” to the district and students transferring to another Columbus City School, as a result of change in address, will be completed at the Enrollment Center.

The Division of Registrar, ESL Enrollment and Assessment, Health Services, School Choice/Lottery Office, School Counseling, School Social Workers, Special Education Services and Transportation Services work within the center to assist with program specific enrollment.

QUESTION:

What is On-Line-Registration (OLR)?

ANSWER:

On-Line-Registration (OLR) is an electronic process that allows parents to complete a student preregistration on-line on their personal computer or tablet. Parents can complete the On-Line Registration conveniently at home or at a remote location with computer and internet access.

QUESTION:

Is an enrollment appointment required?

ANSWER:

No.  Enrollment appointments are no longer required as of 1/3/24.

To enroll, please visit the Columbus City Schools’ website: (www.ccsoh.us). Click on Enroll Today. Click on Speedy Pass On-Line Registration – Complete your on-line application.  Appointments for the 2024 - 2025 school year are not required but are available if you would like to meet virtually with an Enrollment Specialist.   Online Registrations/Enrollment Applications are processed in the order they are submitted.  Once processed, the parent/guardian is notified of the school of enrollment, start date and pertinent information.

 QUESTION:

What documents are required for enrollment?

ANSWER:

Enrollment documents required are:

What if I don’t have all the enrollment documents?

ANSWER:

Parents must upload the required enrollment documents at the time of completing the Online Registration via the Speedy Pass. Central Enrollment Specialists are required by law (ORC 3313.672) to verify birth documents, residence and parent/guardianship status. Online Registrations (enrollment applications) will be returned for editing if documentation is invalid or not presented.

QUESTION:

What happens if I don’t provide my student’s transcript or grade card? How will you determine the grade level to enroll my child?

ANSWER:

If the student is in high school he/she is placed into a Non-determined status (ND) until transcripts are received from the previous school and evaluated by a school counselor. If the student is in elementary or middle school, students are placed in the grade level indicated by the parent an/or age upon enrollment. If records from the previous school conflicts with what the parent indicated upon enrollment, the school will determine the appropriate grade level and notify the Central Enrollment Center if a grade level change is warranted.

If a high school student is enrolling from outside of the country, it is the parent's responsiblity to submit the out of the country transcript.  The transcript must be officially stamped, dated and signed by a school official.

QUESTION:

If my other children attend a school does my new kindergarten student also get to attend that school regardless of the assigned address?

ANSWER:

No. CCS requires every student to complete and submit a lottery application, via the Parent Portal, to be eligible for a chance to enroll into a school other than the school of address.

QUESTION:

How do I find out which school is assigned to my address?

ANSWER:

Parents may utilize the Find Your School link, contact Columbus City Schools Factline at 614-221-3228 or the Division of School Choice at 614-365-7459.

QUESTION:

Why is my address assigned to one school when another school is closer?

ANSWER:

The catchment areas are assigned based on population of areas in order to balance enrollments.

QUESTION:

When does registration start for the following school year?

ANSWER:

CUSTODY

QUESTION:

Why do I have to provide custody documents? If my name is on the birth certificate as the father why does it matter if I was married to the mother?

ANSWER:

Custody documents are needed to protect you and your student.

Ohio Revised Code 3109.042 (Custody rights of unmarried mother) states: An unmarried female who gives birth to a child is the sole residential parent and legal custodian of the child until a court of competent jurisdiction issues an order designating another person as the residential parent and legal custodian. A court designating the residential parent and legal custodian of a child described in this section shall treat the mother and father as standing upon an equality when making the designation. 

A father who is listed on the child’s birth certificate can enroll using a custody affidavit that will be completed by the father at the time of enrollment.  A motion for custody or proof of custody must be provided within 60 days after the date of enrollment or the student will be withdrawn. Please contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office at (614) 525-4460 for further details.

QUESTION:

I live within the Columbus City School District (CCS) boundaries. A child, who is not my biological child, is coming to live with me. His/Her custodial parent resides elsewhere. Can I enroll the child in CCS?

ANSWER:

 No. You need to obtain custody or guardianship of the child and, as required by Ohio Law, proof of custody must be provided at the time of enrollment. Please contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office at (614) 525-4460 for further details.

 QUESTION:

I have a motion for custody. Can I enroll my child with a court ordered motion?

ANSWER:

Yes, IF the motion is court-filed, stamped, and has a future hearing date, typically within 60 days. The Central Enrollment Center can accept this motion until the final court documents are completed.

QUESTION:

A friend/relative provided me a notarized statement giving me custody of his/her child. Is this an acceptable as proof of custody document?

ANSWER:

No. The Columbus City School District will not accept notarized statements. You need to obtain custody/guardianship of the child and, as required by Ohio Law, proof of custody must be provided at the time of enrollment. Please contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts office at (614) 525-4460 for further details.

QUESTION:

My former spouse and I have a shared parenting agreement. We live in two different school districts. Can my child attend school in either school district?

ANSWER:

No. The child must attend school in the district of the “residential parent for school placement purposes" as stated in the divorce/separation agreement and/or shared parenting plan.

QUESTION:

I am divorced and the children live with me. I am the sole custodial parent. I do not want the non-custodial parent to have access to the children’s school records. Is this acceptable?

ANSWER:

No. According to Ohio Law, a non-custodial parent has the same rights as a custodial parent pertaining to student records. The only exception is if you have a protection order or restraining order which would not allow access by the other parent. If you have such an order and wish for us to honor your request, your child's school MUST have a copy of the protection order. Otherwise, the school district cannot deny the non-custodial parent rights to student records.

QUESTION:

May I enroll my child using a family member’s address?

ANSWER:

No. You must enroll from the custodial (parent for residential purposes) parent’s address.

CHANGE OF STUDENT ADDRESS:

QUESTION:

I am moving to a new address in the Columbus City School District. What do I need to know?

ANSWER:

You will need to complete the Annual Update through the Parent Portal.

QUESTION:

Can school secretaries update student addresses and phone numbers?

ANSWER:

No. School secretaries can update phone numbers, but addresses must be updated via the Annual Update in the Parent Portal. 

TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS

QUESTION:

How can a student transfer schools?

ANSWER:

The Columbus City Schools is pleased to offer families different schooling options to help meet a range of family/student needs. Through the School Choice Lottery, families can apply to attend a school other than the school of address for the following school year. Once the school year begins, the only way for a student to transfer schools is with a change of address. For more information on the School Choice Lottery, please visit the FAQ’s on the School Choice Lottery website.

QUESTION:

Why can’t my child go to the school that I want if the school has room?

ANSWER:

Students are assigned to schools based on the address. Parents desiring a school other than the school of address should utilize the School Choice Lottery process to apply for available seats for the following school year.

QUESTION:

My child is attending a school other than the school of address (e.g. the school was full when we enrolled/we accepted a lottery placement/we moved but wanted the child to stay in the current school, etc.), but I now want him/her to go to the school of address for next year. How is this accomplished?

ANSWER:

A Request to Return to Homeschool application must be submitted for the following school year via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal by the end of the 3^rd quarter for the current school year.

MISC. ENROLLMENTS (Pre-K, Summer School, Expulsions, etc.)

QUESTION:

What about Pre-K students? Are Pre-K students enrolled at the Central Enrollment Center?

ANSWER:

Parents and legal guardians can complete the SpeedyPass Online registration beginning in January. School selections can be made via the Parent Portal beginning in April (check the website for specific dates). 

Pre-K students must be 4 years old by September 30^th. If your child will be 5 years old by September 30^th he/she is not eligible for Pre-K but is eligible for Kindergarten.

Please visit the Pre-K page for additional information about priority guidelines for Pre-K enrollment.


QUESTION:

My student is in Pre-K with Columbus City Schools. Do I have to enroll again for Kindergarten?

ANSWER:

No. If your child is being promoted to a regular education kindergarten he/she will automatically transition into his/her school of address for kindergarten.

Parents should contact the Division of Early Childhood Education at 614-365-5822 if they have additional questions about enrollment of Pre-K students.

QUESTION:

Does the Central Enrollment Center enroll Cross Enrolled, Career Center, JIC, or Community School students?

ANSWER:

No. Designated program specific types of enrollment will remain “proprietary” within the CCS office responsible for initiating and maintaining student enrollment within those designated offices.

QUESTION:

My student was expelled. Do I need to enroll them in the new school?

ANSWER:

No, when an expulsion is complete, the student is to report to his/her assigned school.

EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT SERVICES (English as a Second Language (ESL)/Special Education/Gifted and Talented)

QUESTION:

How do I contact the ESL Assessment?

ANSWER:

You can reach ESL Assessment staff by calling the Central Enrollment Center number at 614-365-4011.

QUESTION:

Why does my child have to take an ESL assessment to enroll?

ANSWER:

Students who spoke another language when they first learned to speak, or use another language frequently, must be assessed for English proficiency. This assessment is completed to make sure that students are given the opportunity for services that will best meet their needs and provide the resources to help them succeed.

QUESTION:

Should I bring transcripts/grade cards from another country when I enroll my child?

ANSWER:

Yes. Please bring the academic information from other countries that you have for your child.

QUESTION:

How do I know if my child needs a TB test?

ANSWER:

If your student was born outside the US or traveled outside the US for more than 60 days within the last two years, they should meet the nurse to decide whether they need a TB test. If your student had a TB test done since returning from outside the US, bring that documentation to show the nurse.

QUESTION:

What about students requiring ESL Enrollment or Special Education Services?

ANSWER:

Staff assigned to the Central Enrollment Center are available to assist ESL families with enrollment. Special Education Coordinators will assist Enrollment Specialists with enrollment of students requiring Special Education Services.

QUESTION:

How do I get an interpreter for a meeting at my child’s school?

ANSWER:

The school can request an interpreter or you can call the ESL Department at 614-365-8802 to request an interpreter.

QUESTION:

How does my child get an Individual Education Plan (IEP)?

ANSWER:

If you suspect your child has a disability, consult with the staff at the school to start an evaluation process.

QUESTION:

Which schools have a Gifted and Talented program? How does my child get into the program?

ANSWER:

Placements into the Gifted and Talented Program are NOT completed at the Central Enrollment Center. Please contact the Gifted and Talented Program at 614-365-6626.

DIVISION OF THE REGISTRAR

QUESTION:

What is the Division of the Registrar?

ANSWER:

The Division of the Registrar provides the following services to CCS students:

· Processes “Medical” transfers

· Processes “Child Care” transfers

· Processes “Foreign Exchange Student” applications

· Processes “Custody” documentation

· Updates the State of Ohio Student Identifier System with name changes that have been made in Infinite Campus (I.C.) at the school (legal documentation and a copy of the change, i.e. screen shot in I.C. must be submitted)

· Processes requests for withdrawal of students that are incarcerated or are residing in a treatment facility (i.e. DYS, Abraxas, Paint Creek, COYC). These withdrawal requests MUST be processed in the Division of the Registrar ONLY.

· Processes transcript requests for ALL closed CCS middle schools and high schools, as well as open CCS middle schools and high schools that do not have a microfiche machine.

· The Division of the Registrar processes transcript requests for CCS students only.

QUESTION:

How do I get a copy of my high school transcript?

ANSWER:

In an effort to provide better and more secure service for our customers, all alumni student records requests including graduation verification, transcripts, immunization records, or the complete student record must be made online using our online student record request system. 
Please use the following link to access our online student records request system:  https://ccsoh.scriborder.com

SCHOOL CHOICE/LOTTERY

QUESTION:

What is School Choice/Lottery?

ANSWER:

Columbus City Schools is pleased to offer families different schooling options to help meet a range of student/family needs. Through the School Choice lottery, students can apply for up to three schools to be in a lottery for available seats. For more information, please visit http://www.ccsoh.us/SchoolChoiceLotteryInformation1.aspx

QUESTION:

How do I recover my Parent Portal username and password if I no longer utilize the email that I used when I signed up for Parent Portal?

ANSWER:

You will need to email a photo ID and your child's name and date of birth to parentportalaccess@columbus.k12.oh.us requesting the information.

QUESTION:

Where can I find the report card for each school or the district?

ANSWER:

You can search report cards for districts and schools on the Ohio Department of Education website:http://education.ohio.gov/

QUESTION:

How do I get information about Community Schools?

ANSWER:

Information regarding community schools may be found at: http://education.ohio.gov/ or http://knowyourcharter.com/

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL/END DATE FORMS

QUESTION:

Does the Central Enrollment Center withdraw/end date students?

ANSWER:

Yes, but the withdrawal has to be initiated at the school. Enrollment Specialists will electronically end date students within Infinite Campus ONLY after school secretaries have completed the Electronic Withdrawal/End Date form.

The school office must continue to exercise due diligence in regard to student attendance and withdrawal practices.