DC Grandparent Enroll Child in School Without Custody

You Don't Need Custody Papers to Enroll a Child in a DC School

If you're a grandparent or relative who just took in a child in Washington DC, the school front desk might tell you they need "guardianship papers" before they'll register the child. That demand is wrong. District of Columbia law lets a relative caregiver enroll a child in DCPS or a public charter school without any court order — you need the right paperwork, not a judge.

Two instruments get the job done: the OSSE Other Primary Caregiver (OPC) form and, when the parent is available to sign, a Custodial Power of Attorney (CPOA) under D.C. Code § 21-2301.

The OSSE OPC Pathway — When a Parent Can't Sign

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education defines an "Other Primary Caregiver" as someone providing primary care to a child whose parent is unable to do so because of a serious family hardship. You complete the OPC form alongside the standard DC Residency Verification Form.

What qualifies as a hardship: an active military assignment, serious illness, death, incarceration, the parent's not living with the child due to neglect and/or abuse, loss of habitability, abandonment, or unavailability due to deportation. The 2026–27 form lists eight specific categories.

You also need one piece of supporting evidence — an OSSE Sworn Statement, records from the previous school year, immunization or medical records from the past 12 months, unexpired government benefit documentation, or an OSSE Attestation for Other Primary Caregiver completed by a legal, medical, or social service professional who cannot be a school official or employed by the enrolling LEA.

The CPOA Pathway — When a Parent Is Available

If the parent can sign, a Custodial Power of Attorney under D.C. Code § 21-2301 delegates school enrollment authority directly to you. The parent signs, you present the CPOA to the school, and enrollment proceeds. Notarization isn't required by statute, but many schools accept the form more readily when it's notarized.

A CPOA covers school enrollment, educational records, and medical decisions all in one document. It does not change custody — the parent can revoke it at any time.

What Documents to Bring on Enrollment Day

Pack a folder with these items before heading to the school:

• Completed OPC form or signed CPOA
• DC Residency Verification Form, with residency documents that meet one of its current verification methods (for example, a lease with proof of payment or a utility bill with proof of payment)
• The child's birth certificate or passport
• Immunization records (if available)
• Prior school records (if available)

If records are missing and the child qualifies under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the school must enroll the child immediately and request records from the prior school.

What If the School Still Refuses?

Ask for the refusal in writing — the name of the staff member, the date, and the specific reason. Then escalate directly to the OSSE Enrollment Audit Team at [email protected]. If the child is eligible under McKinney-Vento, the school must immediately enroll the child while an eligibility, school-selection, or enrollment dispute is resolved, including available appeals.

Free legal help is available from the Children's Law Center (202-467-4900) and Legal Aid DC (202-628-1161), both of which handle school enrollment disputes for DC caregivers at no cost.

The DC School and Medical Consent Guide for Grandparents and Relatives walks through every form, every hardship category, and every escalation step — including a printable school enrollment worksheet and refusal log you can bring to the front desk.

See more District of Columbia guides →