DC Public Schools students in kindergarten through 12th grade return to class Monday, Aug. 24, and families who haven't checked their child's immunization records have less than four months before the city can temporarily exclude non-compliant students from school.
Mayor Muriel Bowser's office released a redesigned back-to-school checklist on Thursday, Aug. 6, that lays out four action steps: confirm enrollment, update health records and immunizations, set up transportation and plan for attendance. The four-page guide is available at backtoschool.dc.gov and in print at any DC Public Library branch or Department of Parks and Recreation center.
The sharpest deadline sits in step two. Under DC law, students entering Pre-K3, kindergarten, seventh grade and 11th grade must be fully immunized by Monday, Dec. 7, or face temporary exclusion. Those grade levels were chosen because they follow age bands when new vaccines are first recommended. Required shots at those entry points include protection against measles, whooping cough, polio and meningitis; families can find the full list of grade-level requirements at vaccines.dc.gov.
"Vaccination is one of the first lessons in lifelong health," DC Health Director Dr. Ayanna Bennett said in the Aug. 6 announcement. "When we teach children the importance of immunization, we're helping protect their families, classmates, teachers, and school staff while building healthier habits that last a lifetime."
Families can find immunization locations and requirements at vaccines.dc.gov.
Free rides and safe routes
The checklist also points families to the Kids Ride Free program, which gives DC students ages 5 to 21 free Metrobus and Metrorail rides within the District. New SmarTrip cards for the 2026-27 school year will ship to schools in late August; last year's cards stay active through Sept. 30. Students must request their card from their school's ID administrator. No card, no free ride.
Safe Passage, a separate city program, stations conflict-resolution workers along school routes to keep students safe during their commute.
Pre-K starts later; charters set own calendars
DCPS pre-K students begin Thursday, Aug. 27. DC public charter schools set their own start dates, so charter families should check directly with their school.
Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn said in the Aug. 6 release that the checklist is meant to reduce last-minute scrambling. "We know that when students show up every day, on time and ready to learn, they're more likely to thrive throughout the year," Kihn said.
The redesigned backtoschool.dc.gov site doubles as a year-round hub with an events calendar, social-emotional health resources, the DC Special Education Hub and college and career readiness tools.
The Dec. 7 exclusion deadline applies only to Pre-K3, kindergarten, seventh-grade and 11th-grade students without a medical or religious exemption on file.
