Schools and Kids

School, child care, and student paperwork

Find the right first stop for school enrollment, TK, school shots, records, meals, child care, student aid, and work permits.

Official link Last reviewed June 30, 2026

Why it matters

Kid paperwork touches a lot of public offices. The school or district handles most daily school papers. CDE explains state school programs. CDPH explains school shots. CDSS handles child care licensing and many child care help programs. Student aid has state and federal sources. Start with the office that owns the paper.

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Start here

Find the right public office for everyday paperwork.

Open official source Browse this shelf

Route selector

Select the school or child care paper.

First moves

1
First, name the job. Is it school lookup, enrollment, TK, shots, records, meals, child care, aid, or a work permit?
2
Write down the child's name, birth date, grade, address, current school, deadline, and the paper in front of you.
3
For public school enrollment, call the local school or district. Use CDE's directory to find the official contact.
4
For TK or kindergarten, read the CDE page. Then ask the district about local forms and dates.
5
For school shots, use CDPH Shots for School. Keep the shot record nearby.
6
For private school or homeschool, start with CDE's private school and affidavit pages.
7
For an IEP, foster youth, or homeless education question, start with the school or district program contact. Use the CDE topic page too.
8
For child care, check the license before choosing a provider.
9
For child care cost help, check CDSS programs, CalWORKs child care, and the local resource and referral office.
10
For college money, use the official student aid sources: CSAC, My Grant Info, and FAFSA.

Watch for

1
A school directory does not decide school assignment. The local district usually decides.
2
A mailing address, district line, charter school, county program, and transfer can point to different offices.
3
TK, private school, special education, records, meals, and work permits use different offices.
4
Shots can involve the school, doctor, local health office, and CDPH.
5
Child care license checks and child care cost help are different.
6
A licensed child care listing is only a first check. Visit and ask questions.
7
Do not send a child's private papers through a random link or text.
8
If safety, custody, an IEP deadline, homelessness, foster care, abuse, or a hearing is involved, use the official source and get qualified help.

Directory paths

Keep moving through the directory.

Use the nearby shelf when this is the right lane, or jump back to the full directory if the task changed names.

ShelfStart hereFind the right public office for everyday paperwork.DirectoryPaperwork & MoneyReturn to the full tools shelf.Nearby toolLocal office routerA practical map for deciding whether to start with a city, county, state agency, court, utility, or special district.Nearby toolContractor, mechanic, and complaint helpFind the safer first stop for contractor trouble, auto repair problems, licensed professional complaints, insurance claims, scams, refund disputes, business-name checks, or small claims questions.A-ZFind another California pathUse the directory index when the task has a different name.