Kindergarten registration for 2019-2020 begins Feb. 19

Florida law provides that any child who will be five on or before September 1 is eligible for kindergarten that school year. It is extremely important that new kindergarten students be registered during the February 19 – March 29 window for the fall (August) school opening, according to a news release by the Okaloosa County School District.

Parents of children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2019, are asked to register their children for 2019 – 2020 kindergarten during the period of February 19 – March 29.

Florida law provides that any child who will be five on or before September 1 is eligible for kindergarten that school year. It is extremely important that new kindergarten students be registered during the February 19 – March 29 window for the fall (August) school opening, according to a news release by the Okaloosa County School District.  Classes will be formed, teachers assigned, and materials ordered on the basis of student enrollment.

Registration for kindergarten may be completed at any time during the regular school day at the school zoned for the child’ s neighborhood. To complete the registration process, parents must present proof of the child’ s age (birth certificate), a Florida certificate of immunization, a social security card, a school physical dated no later than twelve months prior to the first day of school, and proof of residency. Further information may be obtained by calling the schools or Curriculum and Instruction at 850-833-4208.

Parents choosing to apply for Controlled Open Enrollment must do so no later than February 15 by visiting www.Okaloosaschools.com or by clicking on the Controlled Open Enrollment link.  Controlled Open Enrollment allows a parent from any district in Florida to enroll and transport his or her student to any public school that has not reached capacity.

Summer VPK Registration for 2019

Parents who wish to register their children for the Summer VPK Program are also requested to enroll their child at this time. Florida law provides that any child who turned five on or before September 1, 2019, and is eligible to attend kindergarten in the 2019-2020 school year and did not attend VPK during the current 2018- 2019 school year is eligible to attend Summer VPK.

For Summer VPK enrollment, parents must provide proof of Florida residency in addition to the registration items listed above. To register for Summer VPK, a certificate of eligibility must be obtained from the Early Learning Coalition at 107 Tupelo Avenue, FWB at 850-833-9330, or the Early Learning Coalition at 10 S. 4th Street, DeFuniak Springs at  850-892-8560.

The Summer VPK site will be Wright Elementary (South area), enrollment permitting. Parents must provide transportation for Summer VPK students. Further information for Summer VPK enrollment may be obtained by calling the Early Learning Coalition Program, at 850-833-3627 or Debbie Haan at 850-689-7211.