Maine Connections Academy Online School Enrollment Checklist for the 2021-22?School Year

Do you have everything you need to sign up for online school? Because Connections Academy is a public school, parents must submit state-required information and documentation for each student. You will save time and enrollment will go more smoothly if you are prepared!

Use the Enrollment Checklist below to gather the documents you will need to start online school. The checklist lists your state's requirements, plus tips to help you find documents you may not have. Once you have your documents ready, it’s easy to create an account and complete the enrollment forms in Connexus^?, our online system.

Students who are currently suspended or expelled from their local school or district may not be eligible to enroll.

A copy of one of the following documents must be provided for every student to verify age eligibility. To avoid unnecessary delays, provide a copy of this document along with your enrollment documents:

• Official birth certificate
• Passport
• Hospital certificate
• Baptismal papers
• Official court document with birth date
• Official school record

Not Sure Where to Get That?

• If you need a copy of your child's birth certificate, you can order it online through the Maine Department of Public Health. Please visit the Maine Department of Public Health website for more information.
• If your child was born in another state, please visit the CDC’s Where to Write for Vital Records webpage for more information. When using this tool, please remember to follow the CDC's Application Guidelines.
• Have questions about your U.S. passport? Visit the U.S. Department of State FAQs page.

As a reminder, the age eligibility is as follows:

• Maximum Age: Any student who turns twenty (20) years old on or before July 1 will not be eligible to enroll in Maine Connections Academy.

You must provide ONE acceptable proof of residency to be eligible for enrollment in MCA. There are many verifiable forms of documentation, which are detailed below:

Not Sure What is Accepted as Proof?

• A residential utility bill
  Acceptable Documents Include: gas, electric, water, sewage, cable, home phone, internet, or propane oil delivery bill from the last 60 days, in the resident's name and service address.
• Mortgage statement from the last 60 days or current annual lease agreement
• Property tax statement
• Driver's license or State Issued ID
• Vehicle registration
• Letter from a government agency from the last 60 days

• If you do not have any of these documents, please contact the enrollment team at 800-382-6010 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

All MCA students must provide evidence of the Maine state required immunizations. Under the Maine School Immunization Law, children are required to receive certain immunizations in order to attend public elementary and secondary schools. For more information about the required number of doses and the ages at which vaccines must be given, review the Guide to Immunizations Required for Grades 7–12.

• Immunization form (found in Connexus)?completed and signed by healthcare provider
• Healthcare provider or Health Department printout
• Immunization booklet with all doses stamped or signed

This form may require both the parent/guardian and health care provider signature.

When Do I Need to Provide My Immunization Records?

Immunization records must be presented prior to enrolling in MCA.

Not Sure What Immunizations Are Required?

A complete list of immunization requirements is available on the Maine State Department of Health website. Many Maine medical offices and clinics can now update your child’s immunization record automatically using an electronic immunization registry, known as the Maine Immunization Registry.

Where Can I Get Immunizations for My Student?

Immunizations can be obtained from doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals. Pediatricians and family doctors or their nurses or medical assistants can give your student the shots they need to meet the requirements for school enrollment. In addition, some large chain pharmacies offer immunizations for older children and adults.

What if I Need Assistance Paying for Vaccines?

By law, Maine managed-care organizations (such as Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross) must cover recommended immunizations for children. Your health plan may charge a co-payment for the shot visit. Check with your health plan or your doctor’s office about any fees.

If you don’t have health insurance, you may be able to get free immunizations through one of these programs:

• Healthy Families. Children enrolled in Maine’s Healthy Families plan receive free immunizations with no copayment.
• Vaccines for Children. Many private-practice Maine doctors participate in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which gives free vaccine to eligible children up to age 18. Ask your child’s doctor if his or her office offers VFC shots.

Immunization Exemptions

Students may be exempt from immunization requirements if (1) their parents sign a statement indicating that such immunization is contrary to their beliefs; or (2) the parents submit a statement from a physician indicating that immunization is not considered safe for the child. An exemption may be temporary or permanent and may be for specific vaccines or all vaccines.

A student may be exempt from immunizations for medical reasons or for personal beliefs. All exemptions require a signature and date on the Statement of Exemption form, which is available in Connexus.

• Medical Exemption: A licensed physician who feels a vaccine is not indicated for a student because of medical reasons should submit to the school (via the patient’s family as needed) a written statement documenting the medical exemption.
• Personal or Religious Reasons Exemption: A parent or guardian may have a child exempted from required immunizations if immunization is contrary to his/her beliefs.