Every New York student has the right to a free public education 

Sudents between the ages of 5 and 21 have the right to a free public-school education. Your immigration status does not matter.  You must live in a school district to attend its schools for free. Schools may ask you to submit documents proving where you live, but they must accept many different kinds of proof, such as:

  • letter or affidavit from your landlord
  • letter or affidavit from a social worker, teacher, lawyer, religious leader, or other person with personal knowledge of your address
  • pay stub that shows your address
  • Income-tax form
  • bill for a utility or other service, such as cell phone, that shows your address
  • membership documents based on residency, such as library cards (these do not have to show your address)
  • voter registration card
  • driver’s license, learner’s permit, or non-driver ID
  • identification, issued by New York state or another government body, that shows your address
  • documents issued by a federal, state, or local government agency, such as a local social services agency or the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement
  • custody or guardianship papers
  • other proofs of residency you present
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Last Reviewed: August 6, 2024