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Children joining the more than 40,000 students in Collier County this school year, which begins Aug. 19, are liable to provide certain types of documentation to enroll. Brand-new kindergartners and transfer students all must comply with health regulations that make school a safer place for all.

Students must present a blue DOH 680 Florida Certification of Immunization form, available from the Collier County Department of Health or a local physician, certifying that the student’s required immunizations are current. Exemption from immunizations for religious reasons can only be granted by the Department of Health, with a Certificate of Exemption. Florida statutes require that all students entering Florida schools for the first time present a Certificate of Physical Examination, performed within the last 12 months. Those children need immunizations for tetanus, diphtheria, chicken pox, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B, dating from early childhood.

If shots are still needed, the Collier County Health Department provides them free of charge on a walk-in basis at three locations: Naples, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, in the Government Complex (252-8595); Golden Gate, 4945 Golden Gate Parkway (353-1274); and Immokalee, 419 N. First St. (252-7300). New seventh graders now require a tetanus/diphtheria booster. Collier County Immunization Program Director Cindy Whetsell said that another new requirement this year is a chicken pox booster for kindergartners.

Because school zones are determined by a child’s home address, students must exhibit proof of residency. This may be accomplished by providing any two of these documents: driver’s license, issued for one year or more; proof of purchase of a home; rental or lease agreement; current electric bill, showing name and service address; Manifestation of Domicile form, filed by the parent; school zone residence verification (Naples area, optional). Additionally, if living with relatives or friends, a notarized letter to that effect is also required. If a student does not live with a parent or legal guardian over 21, and that parent or guardian is a Collier resident or lives in an adjacent county, a Statement of Acceptance of Liability and Responsibility form must be completed and returned to the school.

Out-of-zone attendance must also be approved before a student’s enrollment is complete. This is not necessary when a student has lived in the residence for a minimum of one year prior to enrollment. If the parents are divorced, a copy of the divorce decree and any legal documents that apply to the parents’ rights as relate to the child at school, such as a restraining order or school pickup arrangements, must be provided.

Proof of a student’s legal age is required, in the form of an original or certified copy of a birth certificate; a transcript of a certificate of baptism, showing the date of birth and place of baptism of the child, accompanied by an affidavit sworn by the parents; an insurance policy on the child’s life that has been in force for at least two years; a contemporary religious record of the child’s birth, accompanied by an affidavit sworn by the parents; a passport or Certificate of Arrival in the U.S., showing the age of the child; a transcript of record of age shown in the child’s school record of at least four years prior to application, stating date of birth; or, if none of these can be produced, an affidavit of, age sworn by the parent, accompanied by a Certificate of Age, signed by a Collier public health officer or by a Collier licensed practicing physician, which states that the public health officer or physician has examined the child and believes that the age as stated in the affidavit is substantially correct. A homeless child shall be given temporary exemption from this section for 30 school days.

The school will record the complete name, address and phone number of a school previously attended, along with the last report card or withdrawal form. Before or at the time of enrollment, an Emergency Contact/Health Contact Card must be completed and submitted to the school, and annually thereafter. Questions can be put to the school staff member conducting the enrollment. For health queries, visit www.collierhealthdept.org online or call 377-0514.