In August 2026, ISBE updated its non-regulatory guidance on registration, regarding residency, enrollment, and student eligibility for benefits and services. The primary substantive changes from the previous guidance, issued in September 2025, are two new sections addressing the enrollment of children of migratory agricultural workers or fishers and youths in foster care. Its principal aim is to prioritize the enrollment, attendance, and success of these two groups by offering clarity as to how school districts can avoid enrollment delays.
Apart from the new sections, the update largely preserves last year’s guidance, which covered residency and enrollment for students, including students who receive special education services, are immigrants, or experience homelessness. Further, the new guidance remains consistent regarding age eligibility, school fees, and fee waivers. The new sections are summarized below:
Children of Migratory Agricultural Workers or Fishers
The guidance covers migratory children under the age of 22 who have not graduated or made a qualifying move within the prior 36 months as, with, or to join a migratory agricultural worker or fisher. Districts must enroll migratory children even if the family’s intended stay is temporary. ISBE also advises districts to recognize the Title I, Part C Certificate of Eligibility as documentation of migratory status, identify a migrant education liaison, and work with migrant education programs and ISBE to obtain academic histories and support proper placement. Migratory families may also qualify for homeless services.
Youth in Foster Care
Consistent with the Every Student Succeeds Act (“ESSA”) and the Illinois Foster Children’s Bill of Rights, ISBE seeks to provide students in foster care with explicit protections and a safe, stable, and supportive environment. A child for whom DCFS is legally responsible generally attends the school district where the child lives, although the child may remain in his or her former district after a placement change if doing so is in the child’s best interest. Foster parents, relative caregivers, and residential case managers may enroll children placed in their care. The DCFS Placement/Payment Authorization form (CFS 906-1-E) is the only document needed to verify residency for a child under the legal responsibility of DCFS. After you provide the form, the student must be enrolled immediately. Missing transcripts, transfer forms, IEPs, birth certificates, or health records should not delay attendance. The receiving district must take steps to obtain the missing records and provide appropriate special education services in the meantime.
School districts across the state continue to face complex student residency issues. Contact any of our student/special education attorneys with your issues/questions.
Source: ISBE Guidance
