Kindergarten registration takes place at your neighborhood elementary school. Kindergarten registration begins each year in early March. For the spring of 2008, it begins on March 6th. That registration continues through the beginning of the school year but we encourage you to register as early as possible.
To register your child, please bring the following items to your neighborhood elementary school:
Proof of child's birth date such as a birth certificate or passport
Child's health history, including current immunization
Emergency contact information
Most schools offer all-day kindergarten programs
Half-day kindergarten is provided for all children in the district. There is a fee for all-day kindergarten. If more than 21 children register for any all-day kindergarten classes, the district holds a lottery drawing. For 2008-2009, the lottery will be held on March 13th to determine the students in those classes.
Some children go to a nearby school for kindergarten only
At times, the district may need to transport kindergarten students from one school to another school due to enrollment levels. If that happens, a lottery is held about a week after kindergarten enrollment starts to determine which students will be affected. (For the 2008-2009 school year, that lottery will be held March 13, 2008.) Students who enroll after that time may be transported to another school for kindergarten. (They will return to the neighborhood school for first grade and beyond.)
All-day kindergarten costs money
The state of Washington pays for half-day kindergarten: parents of full-day kindergarten students pay the other half day. The district must charge tuition for the all-day program. Tuition for 2007-2008 was $2,550; we anticipate an increase for 2008-2009. Those who qualify for a reduced fee will pay approximately $900, while those who qualify for free lunch will pay approximately $500. Please bring a voided check to registration if you are registering for the all-day program. Arrangements can be made for automatic withdrawal from your bank account.
Much more information is available in a handbook for you! The
Kindergarten Handbook for Parents includes more details on all of these areas plus information on the kindergarten child, including physical characteristics and special needs of the five-year-old child. Download this useful document that will help you and your child make the most of the kindergarten year.
Children younger than five may qualify to enter kindergarten early
Some students do not meet the state age guidelines for kindergarten but they may still be highly capable and ready for school. The Kindergarten Early Entrance process uses a formal and informal assessment to determine if your child meets or exceeds specific criteria in the areas of mental ability, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, auditory discrimination, visual discrimination, and emotional/social development. Parents who are interested in this option for their child should follow the instructions for early kindergarten entrance.