In June, Dallas County Records, following the lead of the Texas Department of State Health Services, stopped accepting the Mexican Consulate-issued identification card, known as a matrícula consular, as an acceptable form of identification when requesting a birth certificate.
This change in policy regarding the acceptance of the matrícula consular as a form of identification has resulted in questions regarding its impact on Dallas ISD. The district compiled the following Q&A to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this situation as it relates to Dallas ISD.
Q: Does Dallas ISD accept the Mexican Consulate-issued matrícula consular as a form of identification for parents when they are enrolling a child?
A: Yes. Dallas ISD requires parents to provide a form of photo identification that shows the parent’s name, photograph, and date of birth. The matrícula consular is one of many forms of photo identification that is accepted. Other forms include, but are not limited to, drivers licenses, state-issued ID cards, passports, and military IDs. For enrollment purposes, Dallas ISD will accept photo identification even if the identification has expired.
Q: Does Dallas ISD require a birth certificate in order to enroll a student?
A: While a birth certificate is the preferred document for enrollment, the district also accepts a number of alternate documents belonging to the enrolling student, including:
- Statement of the child’s date of birth issued for school admission purposes by the division of the Texas Department of State Health Services responsible for vital statistics
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- School ID cards, records or report card
- Military ID
- Hospital birth record
- Adoption records
- Church baptismal record
- Any other legal document that establishes the identity of the student
Q: When must a parent or guardian provide a birth certificate or other accepted documentation?
A: A parent or guardian has 30 days from the time of enrollment to provide a birth certificate or other accepted documentation.
Q: Is a student prevented from enrolling or withdrawn because their parent or guardian is unable to provide a birth certificate or other accepted documentation for the student?
A: No. A student is never prevented from enrolling nor are they withdrawn once enrolled because they are unable to produce a birth certificate or other accepted documentation.
