With Spring ISD and Klein ISD classes starting Wednesday, Aug. 12, families who still need a certified birth certificate for enrollment have just over a week to get one from the Harris County Clerk's Office.
Hundreds of families picked up certificates Saturday, Aug. 1, at the county's Sixth Annual Back-to-School Birth Certificate Event, which for the first time opened all 10 annex locations simultaneously. The Cypresswood Annex at 6831 Cypresswood Drive in Spring was among them.
"I was raised by a single parent who worked two jobs, and it was really hard for her to get to a governmental office Monday through Friday during business hours," Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth told Click2Houston on Aug. 1. "Opening up our doors on a Saturday for working-class families is what's most important."
The event, which started in 2021 at a single location, has helped hundreds of families obtain records needed for school enrollment. Hudspeth said she expanded it to all 10 annexes this year so families could visit the location closest to them rather than driving across the county.
What families who missed Saturday's event need to know
The Saturday event is over, but the Cypresswood Annex and all other Harris County Clerk locations remain open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Families can also apply online or by mail through cclerk.hctx.net, or call 713-274-8690.
A certified short-form Texas birth certificate costs $23 per copy, payable by cash or credit card. To obtain one, applicants must:
- Have been born in Texas
- Be an immediate family member or legal guardian of the person on the record
- Present a valid government-issued photo ID
- Complete the required application
The Texas Education Agency lists a birth certificate among documents families may need for pre-kindergarten registration, alongside proof of residency, immunization records and a parent's ID. Families should verify specific requirements with their school, as enrollment documentation can vary by district and grade level.
Community partners covered costs for some families
At Saturday's event, the Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. paid the $23 fee for qualifying families. Chapter President Byron O'Neal said the group has participated since the event launched in 2021 and covered costs so certificates would be free for some families who attended.
Volunteers also distributed backpacks filled with school supplies.
Key dates
Klein ISD's Annual Enrollment Update window for returning students closes Friday, Aug. 7, according to Klein Collins High School. Both Spring ISD and Klein ISD begin classes Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The nearest annex locations for Spring-area families are the Cypresswood Annex at 6831 Cypresswood Drive in Spring and the Humble Annex at 7900 Will Clayton Parkway in Humble.
