Military families moving mid-year: what Emerald Coast schools must do under Florida law

Military families who move to Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Bay or Walton County in the middle of the school year have rights under Florida law that the new school must honor. Under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, adopted in section 1000.36 of the Florida Statutes, a school must enroll and place a child using unofficial or hand-carried records, give the family 30 days to complete required immunizations and keep the child’s grade level, even in kindergarten.

Bay, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa are Florida Purple Star Districts for 2024-2027, a state designation for districts that support military families, according to the Florida Department of Education.

What does the compact require the new school to do?

The compact covers children of active-duty service members who transfer between states. Under it:

• The new school enrolls and places the child using unofficial or hand-carried records while it waits for the official ones.
• The old school must send official records within 10 days of the request.
• The family has 30 days from enrollment to get any immunizations Florida requires.
• The child keeps their grade level, even for kindergarten, and the new school first honors the courses the child was taking.
• Children can join sports and clubs after the sign-up deadlines if they otherwise qualify.
• Seniors can have similar courses waived, have the sending state’s exit exams accepted or receive a diploma from their old school.

Source: Florida Statutes 1000.36.

What does Florida require at enrollment?

Florida requires a school-entry health exam done within one year before the child enrolls and a certification of immunization on file with the state registry, under section 1003.22, F.S.. A student who transfers from another Florida county can attend for up to 30 school days while the records arrive. For students coming from another state, the compact’s 30-day immunization window applies.

Which school will my child attend?

Your home address sets the zoned school. Each district has an official lookup where you type your address:

To ask for a school other than the zoned one, each district runs a Controlled Open Enrollment or school choice process with its own dates.

When is the best time to start mid-year?

If your family arrives over the holidays, plan around winter break. Students return Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027, in Santa Rosa, Wednesday, Jan. 6, in Walton and Thursday, Jan. 7, in Okaloosa, per each district’s 2026-27 calendar. Bay’s 2026-27 student calendar is still posted as a draft, so check with the district. Registering before the break gives the school time to request records.

Who helps military families at the school?

Ask your school for its military liaison. Okaloosa and Santa Rosa each have a military families page: Okaloosa County School District and Santa Rosa County District Schools.

What should I bring to registration?

• Hand-carried copies of report cards and transcripts.
• Shot records, even if incomplete: you have 30 days under the compact.
• A recent physical, if you have one; Florida requires an exam done within one year before enrollment.
• Your new address, for the zone lookup.

Where do I get help if a school says no?

Start with the school’s military liaison and the district’s registration office, and bring a copy of the rule that applies. The full text of the compact, including the rules on records, placement, activities and graduation, is in section 1000.36 of the Florida Statutes.

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