Have a kindergarten-age kid at home in Philly? It's registration time.
Last school year, the School District of Philadelphia had room for 12,000 kindergarten students, but only 11,500 children enrolled. Hoping to fill all of those seats by Sept. 14 - the first day for kindergartners in the 2016-17 school year - district officials reminded parents Monday to get their youngsters registered and ready for the three R's.
Last school year, the School District of Philadelphia had room for 12,000 kindergarten students, but only 11,500 children enrolled.
Hoping to fill all of those seats by Sept. 14 - the first day for kindergartners in the 2016-17 school year - district officials reminded parents Monday to get their youngsters registered and ready for the three R's.
"Too many parents believe they missed the deadline, and they should wait another year," William R. Hite Jr., Philadelphia's school superintendent, said in a statement. "The most important thing you can do is register your child for kindergarten."
As of Aug. 1, only 5,000 students had enrolled for the 12,000 kindergarten slots. Judging from last year, when nearly 7,000 families enrolled their children in September, officials are expecting a similar eleventh-hour rush.
On Monday, registration for neighborhood schools opened for students in grades K-12. Parents who do not know their children's neighborhood school can use the school district's School Finder Tool: https://webapps.philasd.org/school_finder/
Parents of kindergarten-age children are encouraged to register before school begins, as space in neighborhood schools can fill up quickly.
If space is no longer available in a child's neighborhood school, officials said, children will be offered enrollment in the closest elementary school with available space.
Classes begin Sept. 7 for students in first grade through 12th.
A child living in Philadelphia who is 5 years old by Sept. 1, or who is 6 and has not attended kindergarten, may attend the full-day program. To register a child for kindergarten, parents are asked to bring the following required documentation:
1. Parent/legal guardianship identification
2. Proof of the child's age (birth certificate)
3. Immunization record
4. Two forms of proof of residency
5. Parent/guardian registration statement
6. Home language survey, which is included on the Student Registration Form provided by the school.
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