Enrollment & Fees

Please note the following dates if your child will attend a District 401 school in 2020-21:

► WEEK OF FEB. 10, 2020
Enrollment begins for kindergarten and preschool. Please see specific dates below for kindergarten enrollment.

► WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12, 2020
Kindergarten enrollment is held at Elmwood & John Mills main offices during parent-teacher conferences, 3 to 7 p.m. Also during conferences, K enrollment will be held at the ECC for parents whose children currently attend ECC preschool.

► THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 2020
Kindergarten enrollment is held at Elmwood & John Mills main offices during parent-teacher conferences, 3 to 7 p.m. Also during conferences, K enrollment will be held at the ECC for parents whose children currently attend ECC preschool.

► TUESDAY, FEB. 25, 2020
Preschool screening for children who will be 3 or 4 in 2020-21 is held at the ECC, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To make an appointment for this date or Feb. 26, call 708-670-0836. For a screening on any other date, call Special Education Coordinator Ms. Pamela Stutzman at 708-583-5852.

► WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26, 2020
Preschool screening for children who will be 3 or 4 in 2020-21 is held at the ECC, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To make an appointment for this date or Feb. 25, call 708-670-0836. For a screening on any other date, call Special Education Coordinator Ms. Pamela Stutzman at 708-583-5852.

► TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020 — CANCELED DUE TO SCHOOL CLOSURES
Kindergarten enrollment is held at Elmwood & John Mills main offices, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

► MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020
Kindergarten and preschool enrollment becomes online only due to COVID-19. Parents should contact via email their 2020-21 building secretary to start the process. (Email information is provided below in the section titled "2020-21 Kindergarten Enrollment.")

► FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020
Enrollment begins for new students in grades 1-12.

► MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020 — POSTPONED DUE TO SCHOOL CLOSURES
Kindergarten Kickoff Event is held at Elmwood & John Mills, 3:30-6:30 p.m. This event is for families who have completed their registration and whose proof of residency is confirmed.

► MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
Returning students in grades 1-12 may send in their proof of residency and start paying their school fees.

► MONDAY, JULY 20, 2020
All residency documents for returning students grades PK-12 are due.
PLEASE NOTE: Walk-in/drop-off open enrollment for returning students had been scheduled for this date from 1 to 7 p.m. at EPHS. This event should be considered postponed until a final decision is made.

► MONDAY, AUG. 31, 2020
First day of school for students.

► TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2020
School fees and fee waivers are due.*

*This date applies to all fees except for preschool tuition payment, which can be made monthly 10 times a year. New students in K-12 who enter the District after the Sept. 1 due date will have 30 days to pay all fees after they have enrolled.

A student is considered "new" if he or she did NOT attend a District 401 school the previous school year. For the purposes of 2020-21 enrollment, this means a student is new if he or she was not enrolled in the District during 2019-20.

A student is considered "returning" if he or she DID attend a District 401 school the previous school year, including the Early Childhood Center or one of our alternative schools. For the purposes of 2020-21 enrollment, this means a student is returning if he or she was enrolled in the District during 2019-20.

All District 401 students must be Elmwood Park residents by the start of the school year. For 2020-21, this means students must be Elmwood Park residents effective Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.

A student's residence is the same as the person who has legal custody of the student.

The District's residency requirement and related procedures are governed by Section 7:60 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual.

All families, whether new or returning, must submit a Proof of Residency Form. See the next section below, "Proof of Residency," for more information.

Families must submit District 401's Proof of Residency Form. This form can be obtained here, and it requires three supporting documents. See the form itself for details.

For 2020-21, a returning student's proof of residency must be supplied to District 401 by Monday, July 20, 2020, or the student will be not be scheduled for classes.

All new students must enroll in the District before they can attend a D401 school. Enrollment is a three-step process:

► Proof of residency
► Payment of fees
► Submission of consent forms

New students and their parents/guardians can find information about these steps and all necessary enrollment forms for 2020-21 at Enrollment for New/Transfer Students.

The first day of school for 2020-21 is Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS

Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to register for kindergarten.

Please note that the Early Childhood Center will close permanently at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

Beginning in August 2020, K students who live south of the railroad tracks will attend Elmwood Elementary School, and K students who live north of the tracks will attend John Mills Elementary School.

Effective March 30, registration for 2020-21 full-day or half-day kindergarten will be done entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kindergarten online registration is now open.

To register, families should follow this sequence:

► 1. EMAIL YOUR BUILDING SECRETARY
Families begin the process by emailing their 2020-21 building secretary for their unique registration code.

• If your child will be attending Elmwood Elementary, send your email to Ms. Jessica Solis at solisj@epcusd401.org
• If your child will be attending John Mills Elementary, send your email to Ms. Denise Wurtz at wurtzd@epcusd401.org
• Alternatively, if your child is currently an ECC pre-K student, you may send your email to Ms. Dina Koutroumanes at koutroumanesd@epcusd401.org

If you do not have an email address of your own, click here for directions on how to set up a free Gmail account. Or, follow these directions:

• Go to the Google Account creation page.
• Enter your name.
• In the "Username" field, enter the username you want for your account.
• Enter and confirm your password.
• Click "Next."
• Verify your mobile phone number with the code sent via text.
• Click "Verify."

► 2. REGISTRATION CODE & DIRECTIONS WILL BE SENT TO YOU
Building secretaries will send you an email with the unique registration code as well as directions on how to register your family member. 

► 3. PROVIDE REQUIRED INFORMATION VIA EMAIL ONLY
Families complete their end of the registration process by providing all required information, including proof of residency. Please note that families will no longer have "mail-in or drop-off" options to prove residency. Everything must be emailed to the District 401 registrar, Ms. Kim Kaminski, at registration@epcusd401.org.

► 4. WELCOME PACKET WILL BE SENT TO YOU 
Once your residency has been verified and your registration approved, your building secretary will enter your student into PowerSchool for 2020-21. You will be emailed a PDF titled "Welcome to Kindergarten Packet." Students who are enrolled before May 1, 2020, will receive free school spirit wear!

► IF YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS DURING SUMMER BREAK
Please note that the main offices of Elmwood Elementary and John Mills Elementary will be closed for summer break from June 4 to Aug. 10, 2020. If you plan to enroll your child in kindergarten during that time, please begin the process by emailing the Registrar's Office at Elmwood Park High School:

Kim Kaminski, Registrar
registration@epcusd401.org

PLEASE NOTE: The Kindergarten Kickoff Event that had been scheduled for May 4, 2020, at both Elmwood and John Mills has been postponed until further notice.

PRESCHOOL STUDENTS

Children who are 3 or 4 years old may register for preschool. Morning or afternoon sessions are offered.

As noted above, the Early Childhood Center will close permanently at the end of 2019-20.

Beginning in August 2020, all preschool (PK3 & PK4) students will attend John Mills Elementary School.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, registration for 2020-21 preschool will be done entirely online. Preschool online registration is now open.

To register, families should follow this sequence:

► 1. EMAIL YOUR BUILDING SECRETARY
Families begin the process by emailing their 2020-21 building secretary for their unique registration code.

• As a pre-K student, your child will be attending John Mills Elementary in 2020-21, so you may send your email to Ms. Denise Wurtz at wurtzd@epcusd401.org
• Alternatively, if your child is currently an ECC pre-K student, you may send your email to Ms. Dina Koutroumanes at koutroumanesd@epcusd401.org

If you do not have an email address of your own, click here for directions on how to set up a free Gmail account. Or, follow these directions:

• Go to the Google Account creation page.
• Enter your name.
• In the "Username" field, enter the username you want for your account.
• Enter and confirm your password.
• Click "Next."
• Verify your mobile phone number with the code sent via text.
• Click "Verify."

► 2. REGISTRATION CODE & DIRECTIONS WILL BE SENT TO YOU
Your building secretary will send you an email with the unique registration code as well as directions on how to register your family member. 

► 3. PROVIDE REQUIRED INFORMATION VIA EMAIL ONLY
Families complete their end of the registration process by providing all required information, including proof of residency. Please note that families will no longer have "mail-in or drop-off" options to prove residency. Everything must be emailed to the District 401 registrar, Ms. Kim Kaminski, at registration@epcusd401.org. Once your residency has been verified and your registration approved, your building secretary will enter your student into PowerSchool for 2020-21.

► IF YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS DURING SUMMER BREAK
Please note that the main office of John Mills Elementary will be closed for summer break from June 4 to Aug. 10, 2020. If you plan to enroll your child in preschool during that time, please begin the process by emailing the Registrar's Office at Elmwood Park High School:

Kim Kaminski, Registrar
registration@epcusd401.org

► WHEN TO ENROLL FOR 2020-21
Preschool enrollment is ongoing. Families may enroll their child for PK once they are 3 years old. Spaces are limited for our tuition and Preschool for All (PFA) spots.

► PRESCHOOL ENTRY SCREENINGS
Preschool entry screenings are conducted annually in preparation for the next school year. The purpose of the preschool screening is to identify children who may benefit from a range of programs and services provided to preschoolers in our District.

For more information about screenings, please contact Special Education Coordinator Ms. Pamela Stutzman at 708-583-5852.

It is preferable to wait for the screening results before enrolling your child in preschool. Through our screenings some families may be found eligible for our PFA grant-funded spots (which are limited), while others may not be found eligible but may choose to enroll as a tuition-paying student.

 NEW STUDENTS IN GRADES 1-12

Enrollment for new students who will be in grades 1-12 in 2020-21 opens on May 1, 2020.

Reminder for new students in grades 1-12:

► Grades 1-5 south of the railroad tracks attend Elmwood Elementary School.
► Grades 1-5 north of the railroad tracks attend John Mills Elementary School.
► Grades 6-8 attend Elm Middle School.
► Grades 9-12 attend Elmwood Park High School.

The first day of school for 2020-21 is Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-21 registration for students who will be new to District 401 in grades 1-12 will be done entirely online.

To register, families should follow this sequence:

► 1. EMAIL YOUR BUILDING SECRETARY
Families begin the process by emailing their 2020-21 building secretary for their unique registration code.

• If your child will be attending Elmwood Elementary, send your email to Ms. Jessica Solis at solisj@epcusd401.org
• If your child will be attending John Mills Elementary, send your email to Ms. Denise Wurtz at wurtzd@epcusd401.org
• If your child will be attending Elm Middle School, send your email to Ms. Danielle Yager at yagerd@epcusd401.org
• If your child will be attending Elmwood Park High School, send your email to Ms. Kelly Schlanger at schlangerk@epcusd401.org

If you do not have an email address of your own, click here for directions on how to set up a free Gmail account. Or, follow these directions:

• Go to the Google Account creation page.
• Enter your name.
• In the "Username" field, enter the username you want for your account.
• Enter and confirm your password.
• Click "Next."
• Verify your mobile phone number with the code sent via text.
• Click "Verify."

► 2. REGISTRATION CODE & DIRECTIONS WILL BE SENT TO YOU
Building secretaries will send you an email with the unique registration code as well as directions on how to register your family member. 

► 3. PROVIDE REQUIRED INFORMATION VIA EMAIL ONLY
Families complete their end of the registration process by providing all required information, including proof of residency. Please note that families will no longer have "mail-in or drop-off" options to prove residency. Everything must be emailed to the District 401 registrar, Ms. Kim Kaminski, at registration@epcusd401.org. Once your residency has been verified and your registration approved, your building secretary will enter your student into PowerSchool for 2020-21.

► IF YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS DURING SUMMER BREAK
Please note that the main offices of Elmwood Elementary, John Mills Elementary and Elm Middle will be closed for summer break from June 4 to Aug. 10, 2020. If you plan to enroll your child in grades 1-12 during that time, please begin the process by emailing the Registrar's Office at Elmwood Park High School:

Kim Kaminski, Registrar
registration@epcusd401.org

All returning students must re-enroll in District 401 in order to attend a District school again the following year. Enrollment is a three-step process:

► Proof of residency
► Payment of fees
► Submission of consent forms

Parents of returning students should email their residency information to:

► registration@epcusd401.org 

They should then go into the parent portal of PowerSchool to sign the AUP, handbook and photo consent forms.

If you are the parent of a returning student enrolling in kindergarten or preschool for 2020-21, you may send in your residency documents starting the week of Feb. 10, 2020.

If you are the parent of a returning student enrolling in grades 1-12 for 2020-21, you may send in your residency documents starting the week of May 4, 2020.

The first day of school for 2020-21 is Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.

Returning students and their parents/guardians can find additional enrollment information as well as links to all necessary forms for 2020-21 at Enrollment for Returning Students.

PROOF OF RESIDENCY FOR RETURNING STUDENTS

All proof of residency documents for 2020-21 returning students must be received by Monday, July 20, 2020, or your student will not be scheduled for classes. Please email, fax or mail your residency documents to us. You may pay your fees on the D401 webstore.

Any homeless child shall be immediately admitted to District 401, even if the child or child's parent/guardian is unable to produce records normally required to establish residency. 

District 401's liaison for homeless children is Director of Student Services Dr. Kari Smith. If you have questions about enrolling a homeless child in District 401, Dr. Smith can be reached by phone at 708-583-5836 or by email at this address.

As stated in Section 6:140 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual, a homeless child may attend the District 401 school that the child attended when permanently housed or in which the child was last enrolled. A homeless child living in any District 401 school’s attendance area may attend that school.

A "homeless child" is defined as provided in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the Illinois Education for Homeless Children Act. See our Enrollment If Homeless page for more information.

Enrollment/registration and payment information will be mailed to District students who attend alternative schools. 

If you have not received your materials, please contact Ms. Nancy Lasselle in the District Office. She can be reached by phone at 708-583-5831 or by email at this address.

Enrollment in District 401 requires the payment of school fees. The amount for each school is set by the District 401 Board of Education. A complete list of school fees for 2020-21 is available here.

Full payment for students in grades K-12 is due Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. Monthly payments are available for preschool students. 

New students in K-12 who arrive after the due date have 30 days to pay their fees after they enroll in the District. As mentioned above, monthly payments are available for preschool students.

Waivers are available for most school fees if you meet the income eligibility requirements. Please note, however, that preschool tuition cannot be waived.

The terms "school fees" and "fees" mean any monetary charge collected by District 401 from a student or the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student as a prerequisite for the student’s participation in any curricular or extracurricular program of the district. 

The District does not impose a "fee" when it requires that a student provide his or her own ordinary supplies of materials (e.g., pencil, paper, notebooks), which are necessary to participate in any curricular or extracurricular program.

School fees for the 2020-21 school year have been set as follows:

► Pre-Kindergarten: $3,000 (monthly payments available)
► Pre-Kindergarten (special ed): $50
► Kindergarten Half Day: $170
► Kindergarten Full Day-Grade 8 (John Mills, Elmwood, Elm): $200
► Elmwood Park High School: $350
► Co-op/Alternative School: $50

Other fees for the 2020-21 school year include but are not limited to the following:

► EPHS Senior Graduation Fee: $60
(This fee is NOT eligible to be waived; the graduation fee is preloaded to your student's webstore account)

► EPHS Advanced Placement Test Fee: $85 each
(This is only for students enrolled in AP classes; fees will be loaded into student accounts over winter break)

► Driver's Education Fee: $275
(This is for sophomore Behind-the-Wheel)

► New Students | 2020-21 Fee Schedule and Payment Form
► Returning Students | 2020-21 Fee Schedule and Payment Form

School fees along with other monies due to the school (lost books, book fines, etc.) typically must be paid in full by early in the fall semester. 

For the 2020-21 school year, the due date for students in grades K-12 to make full payment is Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. 

Preschool tuition cannot be waived, but the amount can be paid in 10 monthly installments of $300, due on the first of each month.

Returning students may begin paying their school fees in early May. The starting date for 2020-21 payments is Monday, May 4, 2020.

New students in grades K-12 who enter District 401 after the Sept. 1 due date will have 30 days to pay all fees after they have enrolled in the District (unless they are eligible for fee waivers). Preschool tuition cannot be waived, but the amount can be paid in monthly installments, due on the first of each month.

You can pay by mail with a check or money order, or you can pay online with a credit or debit card via the District's webstore. (In the case of returning students, school fees have been preloaded to their webstore accounts.) 

With either method you can pay by installments as long as your total amount is received by the final due date: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.

For more information about payment methods, visit the School Fees page on the District 401 home site.

NOTE: Although returning students have the option of enrolling and paying in person on open enrollment day, we recommend that you mail, scan or fax in your residency documents and pay your fees online.

Use this link to access District 401's online payment system — aka, the D401 webstore.

Use this link for information about applying for a fee waiver. Please note that preschool tuition ($3,000) cannot be waived, although monthly payments can be used.

District 401's procedures related to the waiver of student fees are governed by Section 4:140 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual.

If a student leaves D401 after paying all required fees, the following refund policy applies:

► 75 percent refund if the student leaves by the end of the first week of school
► 50 percent if the student leaves by the end of the second week
► 25 percent if the student leaves by the end of the third week
► Zero if the student leaves after the end of the third week

For more information about fee payments, visit our School Fees and School Fees FAQ pages.