The Arizona Revised Statutes have been updated to include the revised sections from the 56th Legislature, 1st Regular Session. Please note that the next update of this compilation will not take place until after the conclusion of the 56th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session, which convenes in January 2024.
This online version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is primarily maintained for legislative drafting purposes and reflects the version of law that is effective on January 1st of the year following the most recent legislative session. The official version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is published by Thomson Reuters.
15-828. Birth certificate; school records; exception
A. On enrollment of a pupil for the first time in a particular school district or private school offering instruction to pupils in any kindergarten programs or grades one through twelve, that school or school district shall notify the person enrolling the pupil in writing that within thirty days the person must provide one of the following:
1. A certified copy of the pupil's birth certificate.
2. Other reliable proof of the pupil's identity and age, including the pupil's baptismal certificate, an application for a social security number or original school registration records and an affidavit explaining the inability to provide a copy of the birth certificate.
3. A letter from the authorized representative of an agency having custody of the pupil pursuant to title 8, chapter 2 certifying that the pupil has been placed in the custody of the agency as prescribed by law.
B. If a child is instructed at home pursuant to section 15-802, the person who has custody of the child shall, within thirty days after the home instruction begins, provide to the county school superintendent of the county in which the child resides one of the following:
1. A certified copy of the child's birth certificate.
2. Other reliable proof of the child's identity and age, including the child's baptismal certificate, an application for a social security number or original school registration records and an affidavit explaining the inability to provide a copy of the birth certificate.
3. A letter from the authorized representative of an agency having custody of the pupil pursuant to title 8, chapter 2 certifying that the pupil has been placed in the custody of the agency as prescribed by law.
C. On presentation of a document pursuant to this section, a photocopy of the document shall be placed in the pupil's file and the document that is presented shall be returned.
D. A pupil shall be enrolled in the school or school district, or the county school superintendent shall record the pupil's name, using the name that is printed on the birth certificate, other reliable proof of the pupil's identity, or letter from an agency having custody of the pupil provided pursuant to this section. This subsection does not prohibit a school or school district from calling a pupil by any name the pupil's parent or guardian wishes the pupil to be called.
E. On the failure of a person enrolling a pupil or instructing a child at home to comply with subsection A or B of this section, the school, school district or county school superintendent shall notify that person in writing that, unless the person complies within ten days, the case shall be referred to the local law enforcement agency for investigation. If compliance is not obtained within the ten-day period, the school, school district or county school superintendent shall refer the case to the local law enforcement agency.
F. The school, school district or county school superintendent shall immediately report to the local law enforcement agency any affidavit received pursuant to this section that appears to be inaccurate or suspicious in form or content.
G. Within ten school days after enrolling a transfer pupil from a private school or another school district, a school shall request directly from the pupil's previous school a certified copy of the pupil's record. Notwithstanding any financial debt owed by the pupil, any school requested to forward a copy of a transferring pupil's record to the new school shall comply and forward the record within ten school days after receipt of the request unless the record has been flagged pursuant to section 15-829. If the record has been flagged, the requested school shall not forward the copy and shall notify the local law enforcement agency of the request. School districts shall include in the educational records required by this subsection data collected pursuant to sections 15-741 and 15-766, as prescribed by the state board of education.
H. Any disclosure of educational records by the school district or charter school shall comply with the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (20 United States Code section 1232g).
I. This section does not apply to homeless pupils as defined in section 15-824, subsection C.