Law Summary
Upholding Learners' Rights
- Guarantees learners the right to enroll in public schools with minimum documentary requirements.
- Affirms learners' right to enroll in private schools and SUCs/LUCs subject to minimum documentary requirements and additional conditions per institutional policies.
Repeal and Compliance
- Repeals DepEd Order No. 6, s. 2017 and other inconsistent Orders or Memoranda.
- Emphasizes immediate dissemination and strict compliance with the new policy.
Rationale and Background
- Aligns enrollment procedures with constitutional mandate and key laws (RA 10157 - Kindergarten Act, RA 10533 - Enhanced Basic Education Act).
- Enrollment data management vital for planning, resource allocation, and policy formulation.
- Consolidates previous relevant issuances on enrollment into a single policy.
Scope of Policy
- Applies to all DepEd offices, personnel, public/private schools, SUCs/LUCs offering basic education, and Alternative Learning System (ALS) learning centers.
- Provides guidance for learners and parents on enrollment requirements and procedures.
- Covers early registration, actual enrollment, Learner Information System (LIS) encoding, and fee-related policies.
Key Definitions
- Early Registration: Pre-registration before classes start for Kindergarten, Grades 1, 7, and 11.
- Pre-registered: Learners who completed early registration but not officially enrolled.
- Enrollment: Formal registration in the LIS upon submission of documents and first attendance.
- Learner: Individual enrolled in basic education.
- Moved In/Out, Transferred In/Out, Temporarily Enrolled: Terms referring to enrollment changes mid-year.
- Out of School Children (OSC) and Youth (OSY): Defined by age and schooling status.
- Balik-Aral: Learners returning after dropout.
- Indigenous Peoples (IP) and Special Education (SPED) Learners: Defined categories with specific considerations.
- Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT): Test for validating and accrediting informal learning to re-enter formal education.
Enrollment Procedures
- Early registration for Kindergarten and select grades occurs January to February.
- Aim to register all new entrants and identify OSC/OSY for inclusion.
- Multi-level information dissemination including Central Office, Regional Offices, SDOs, schools, involving community stakeholders.
- Document submission required: primarily PSA Birth Certificate or equivalent for identification.
- Learners without documents given until August 31st to submit.
- Grade placement based on Kindergarten completion or PEPT results.
- Older first-time enrollees advised to join ALS.
- Eligibility requirements specified per grade level with documentary requirements.
Special Cases and Transferees
- Additional documents required for learners from foreign schools, non-accredited schools, and Balik-Aral learners.
- Displaced learners due to war or disasters may submit alternative proofs.
- Transferees submit latest Progress Report Card (SF 9) and follow transfer guidelines.
General Enrollment and Class Assignment
- Schools post class assignments a week before classes.
- First attendance marks official enrollment.
Temporary Enrollment
- Transferees without documents temporarily enrolled with Affidavit of Undertaking.
- Temporary Progress Report Card issued for progress monitoring.
- Status requires completion of documentary requirements by August 31 for official enrollment.
- Temporary enrollees cannot be promoted or graduate officially.
Late Enrollment
- Allowed if learner meets 80% attendance and academic requirements.
- Catch-up activities may be applied.
Movement of Learners
- Moved in/out status recorded in LIS.
- Verification between originating and receiving schools required.
- ALS transfers noted but not considered school leavers.
Fees
- No fees are collected during enrollment.
- Voluntary contributions post-enrollment permitted but not mandatory.
- Contributions not collected during release of CCT/4Ps financial assistance.
Enrollment Data Management
- Every learner assigned a unique and permanent Learner Reference Number (LRN).
- Early registration and actual enrollment data encoded in LIS.
- Schools must update data in LIS and Enhanced Basic Education Information System (EBEIS).
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Regional and division offices tasked to monitor and assist implementation.
- Central Office reviews policy execution jointly with relevant bureaus.
Effectivity and References
- Effective School Year 2018-2019.
- Repeals prior inconsistent DepEd Orders.
- Cites relevant DepEd Orders and laws governing enrollment and education processes.