Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wait until my child is six and then enroll them in school?

Parents or guardians can choose to defer their child’s start to the following year. Caregivers are required to have their children registered for school or homeschooling by the calendar year in which they turn six. If caregivers decide to delay school enrollment for their five-year-old, they should discuss the best placement for their child when they enter school at age six with Warren Elementary School staff.

Do I need to complete the student registration process again if my child is moving from the Ashland Preschool to the Warren School?

Do you offer before and after-school care?

The Ashland Extended Day Program provides safe, high-quality and affordable before and after-school care programs for grade K–6 students. Cost is determined based on the programs and the number of days students attend. Financial assistance may be available. Visit the Ashland EDP website for more information.

Below are additional options for daycare. Please contact them directly for more information.

How do I complete the electronic forms?

Please download and complete all forms that pertain to your student's specific situation. You can fill out forms using:

Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download here).
Mozilla Firefox (how to fill out a form in the browser).
the Preview app (instructions for Mac users).

Here are some video tutorials to help:

How will you make sure my child will be safe —in the classroom and on the school grounds?

The safety of all children in our schools is of the utmost importance. The District is committed to creating safe, caring and orderly schools with environments for learning. We take emotional, social and psychological safety just as seriously as physical safety. Parents and caregivers can be assured that racial, ethnic and cultural differences as well as special educational needs will be respected. If you have questions or concerns about the safety or well-being of your child, you are encouraged to contact your child’s teacher or an administrator at the school for more information.

If I live in another town, can I register my child(ren) in Ashland Public Schools?

Children must live in Ashland in order to attend Ashland Public Schools. Temporary residence in the Town of Ashland for the sole purpose of attending Ashland Public Schools will not be considered residency.

Before a student is registered for Ashland Public Schools and can begin school, their parent or legal guardian must provide proof of primary residence.

Parents/guardians may provide a Residency Affidavit to enroll their student(s). Students who meet McKinney-Vento eligibility guidelines may be enrolled.

Kindergarten is a full-day program. The District recognizes the need to be flexible regarding the amount of time a caregiver wants their child to attend each day. We expect you will work together with school administrators and kindergarten teachers to determine what is best for your child.

Per Massachusetts General Law and Ashland School Committee policy, Ashland Public Schools provides free transportation to Ashland students in grades K–6 who reside more than two (2.0) miles from school.

Students in grades K–6 who live two or fewer miles from school and all students in grades 7–12 may pay an annual transportation fee if they want to take the bus to and from school. Financial assistance may be available.

To learn more about transportation options, visit ashland.k12.ma.us/transportation.

One document from each column below must be submitted.

Proof of Residency

Proof of Occupancy

Proof of Identification

One of the following required:

Recent mortgage payment
Property tax bill
Fully signed and executed lease and/or rental agreement the names of the children listed on the document
HUD lease or another public housing lease (Section 8)
HUD settlement statement

Notarized Residency Affidavit

One of the following required:

Cable/satellite TV bill
Electric bill
Gas bill
Water bill
Home/renter’s insurance
Excise tax bill
Home phone bill (not cell)

* All bills must be dated within the past 45 days with the name and address clearly stated.

One valid photo identification from the following list is required:

Driver’s License
State ID card
Passport
Military ID
Other government-issued photo ID

Screenings are necessary and mandatory for all kindergarten students in public schools in the state of Massachusetts. During screenings, we will assess your child's current skills by evaluating their language skills, cognitive skills and fine and gross motor skills. Screenings provide valuable information for teachers and allow school staff to meet and welcome your child into the school.

You will schedule your screening time during your registration.

The parent/guardian and owner/renter must complete the Residency Affidavit and both signatures must be notarized. A notary is available in our office and requires those signing the affidavit to be present. The person with whom you are living must submit proof of residency, proof of occupancy and photo identification.

The proof of residency policy does not apply to homeless students and families covered under the McKinney-Vento Act. If you are experiencing unique living arrangements, contact Student Services at (508)881-0155 or bhawkins@ashland.k12.ma.us.

The process for enrolling children in kindergarten is ongoing. However, completing registration before summer is strongly recommended.

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Student Registration FAQs