Moving With Kids, School Ignores Status, Insure in 60 Days

When you move to the US with children, sort out health coverage first and then school enrollment: families moving from abroad may qualify for a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period within 60 days and can enroll together; public elementary and secondary schools may ask for proof that you live in the district and proof of your child’s age, but cannot turn a child away for not being legally admitted; California also says children have the right to a free public education regardless of their or their parents’ immigration status, and enrollment never requires an SSN. Have vaccination records and school transcripts ready before you leave, and find child care through the state links on Childcare.gov.

You need to settle on a school district before you can show proof of address; this article follows that order.

The order for landing with children

Health coverage the whole family within 60 days

HealthCare.gov says that if you or anyone in your household moved to the US from abroad in the past 60 days, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (HealthCare.gov). Lawfully present immigrants can get Marketplace coverage.

• Medicaid and CHIP for children: HealthCare.gov says certain states cover “lawfully residing” pregnant women and children in Medicaid or CHIP (HealthCare.gov). You will find out whether your state does when you apply.

For how to use the Special Enrollment Period, see health insurance for new immigrants within 60 days of moving.

School enrollment what schools can and cannot ask for

The basis is the Supreme Court’s 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe: a Texas statute withheld state funds for children not “legally admitted” to the US and let school districts deny them enrollment, and the Court held that it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (opinion).

For what schools can and cannot ask for in practice, taking California as an example, the California Attorney General’s December 2025 guide for families says (California Attorney General):

• Proof of address and age: schools must accept a variety of documents to show the child’s age or residency, and don’t need to keep a copy of the proof of age.
• Immigration status and SSN: California says citizenship or immigration status information is never needed for enrollment, and neither is an SSN; to prove residency or age you don’t have to use documents that could reveal immigration status, or provide a passport or visa.

Other states have their own rules; our EDU site covers them in an article on whether schools can ask about visas at enrollment (in Chinese). For what to prepare before enrolling, see School Ignores Immigration Status, Prep Address and Vaccines.

Vaccines ask the school district before enrollment

Which vaccines are required for school and how to submit records depend on your state and school district. We could not open the CDC and HHS vaccine pages when we checked on 2026-10-28, so this article does not list vaccines. Bring your child’s existing vaccination records and ask when you enroll.

For documents to prepare before you leave, see documents to prepare before moving to the US. For choosing schools, districts and enrollment details, see EDU education guide.

Child care use the state links on Childcare.gov

Childcare.gov lists, state by state, where to find child care and apply for help paying for it, and explains how to check a provider’s license, inspection reports and background checks (Childcare.gov).

Frequently asked questions

My child’s parents don’t have green cards. Can the child attend public school?

Yes. Under the Supreme Court’s 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, a state cannot keep a child out of public school because the child was not legally admitted; the California Attorney General’s guide also says children have the right to a free public education regardless of their or their parents’ immigration status.

My child only has a foreign birth certificate. Will the school accept it?

Ask the district which documents it accepts. California says schools must accept a variety of documents to show a child’s age.

The school asks for my child’s SSN. Do I have to give it?

California says an SSN is never needed for enrollment. For other states, see our EDU article on whether schools can ask about visas at enrollment (in Chinese).

Can my child’s health coverage be bought together with the family’s?

Within 60 days of moving from abroad, you or anyone in your household may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Certain states also cover lawfully residing children in Medicaid or CHIP.

Which vaccines are required for school?

It depends on your state and school district; ask the district before enrollment. This article did not read the CDC source, so it does not list vaccines.

This item on the checklist

“Check in at school and register for classes” is a free item in the My USA Plan checklist . The first 30 items are free, and the full 91 items cost US$9.90 once, not a subscription. For the rest of your first steps in the US, see what to do in your first 30 days in the US.

Sources and dates checked

All checked on 2026-10-27; the sources for the school enrollment section were rechecked on 2026-10-29. This article is not legal advice.

• Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982, govinfo U.S. Reports):https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-457/pdf/USREPORTS-457-202.pdf
• California Attorney General, Know Your Educational Rights (December 2025):https://www.oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/appendix-g-know-your-educational-rights-english.pdf
• HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period:https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/
• HealthCare.gov lawfully present immigrants:https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/
• Childcare.gov: https://childcare.gov/

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