Understanding Kindergarten Registration in Delaware 1

Overview Welcome and Introductions Delaware Readiness Team Overview Understanding the Kindergarten Registration Process in Delaware Commonly Asked Questions Kindergarten Registration- Where do I start? School Choice Next Steps

What Are Delaware Readiness Teams? A statewide initiative of volunteer-based teams that strengthens communities at a local level and help children from birth through age eight get ready for school and life. 19 Teams 500 Volunteers Thousands of Families

Delaware Readiness Team Members Each team consists of key people who live in the community or support families and children birth – age eight. Over 400 people participate in regular team meetings and events. READY FAMILIES Parents Grandparents Guardians READY EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS Teachers Administrators Delaware Stars Representatives Family Child Care High School/College Students Home Visitors READY SCHOOLS Teachers Administrators District Leaders Service Providers School Nurses + + READY COMMUNITIES State Service Representatives Health Care Providers Businesses/Chambers of Commerce Community Organizations Faith Based Representatives = Ready Children who are prepared for a great start in school and life +

About the Delaware Readiness Teams

Vision: Children are ready for school and life Desired Outcome: Children will enter kindergarten ready to learn. Success Measurement: 10% increase in percentage of children who are reaching benchmarks on Early Learning Survey (K entry assessment) domains(mathematics, language, cognitive, social and emotional, literacy, and physical). Kindergarten Readiness and Registration Campaign Developmental Screening Initiative Family Empowerment Initiative Children will be enrolled on time and ready to learn on the first day of kindergarten. Increase screening and according to results provide families with resources and services to support. Families will increase knowledge of child development and implement activities that will support learning and growth. 500 Volunteers 19 Readiness Teams Thousands of Families

Early Learner Survey Data: All Children 1/3 to 1/2 of all children and 1/2 to 2/3 of low-income children are NOT entering kindergarten with skills needed for success Domain 5-year-olds NOT “accomplished” Low-income 5-year-olds NOT “accomplished” Cognitive 46% 54% Language 38% 56% Literacy 31% 42% Math 66% Physical 36% 41% Social Emotional 45% Delaware Department of Education. (2017). 2016 Delaware Early Learner Survey Key Findings.

Readiness Team Projects Supporting Early Learner Survey Domains Domain and Related Skills Projects Targeting Learning Domain Projects that support all Learning Domains Mathematics Counts Quantifies Connects numerals with quantities Math Counts Learning Night for parents and children Kindergarten Academies Joshua and Jasmine Go to Kindergarten book   Parent Conference Back to School Events Passport to Learning Events Kindergarten Family Fun Nights Language Follows directions Speaks clearly, Uses conventional grammar Library Activity Bags that include books and extension activities to support learning at home Cognitive Attends and engages Solves problems Uses classification skills Preparedness on Parenting Events for new and expectant parents Kindergarten Transition Kits Social and Emotional Follows limits and expectations Takes care of own needs Interacts with peers Conscious Discipline Training supporting social emotional behavior of child by identifying best practices on communication  Kindergarten Transition Kits Literacy Notices and discriminates rhymes Notices and discriminates alliteration Identifies and names letters Bookmobile Book Crossing Project to share and distribute books in the community Library literacy kits Physical Jumps, runs Uses fingers and hands Uses drawing and writing tools Community Gardens for schools and early learning programs Fine Motor Bootcamp training for parents and educators

Kindergarten Registration Process in Delaware 28 districts and charters provide kindergarten to Delaware’s children. Districts/Charters provided 5 different months for the start of kindergarten registration. There is no common deadline for kindergarten registration in Delaware. Most districts use hard copies of registration paperwork which is then inputted into eSchool by office staff. There is an average of 7 forms with repetitive questions required for kindergarten registration. Information Collected From Districts During Early 2018

What Parents Say About The Process… 76% of parents describe the kindergarten registration process in Delaware as hard or extremely hard to navigate. 98% of families who completed the Spanish survey said kindergarten registration was hard or extremely hard to navigate. The following aspects of the kindergarten registration process were reported as the most challenging: Understanding what was expected of me as a parent Navigating the school choice process Finding a school to register my child 33% of the parents who completed the Spanish survey said the most challenging part of kindergarten registration was the language barrier. Information Collected From Survey Conducted By The Delaware Readiness Teams During May and June of 2018

Current State: Process 2018-2019 School Year 2019-2020 School Year Sept. 30 Decision to Hire More Teachers and/or split classrooms Teachers Hired for 2019-2020 School Year Start of School: Hundreds of Students Are Not Registered School Choice Deadline Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Apr-Jul Aug- Sept Kindergarten Registration Opens

What The Readiness Teams Are Doing To Solve The Problem Distribute Kindergarten Registration Information Folders to Families Facilitating Collaboration Between Early Learning Providers and School Representatives to Support Transitions into Kindergarten Host 2019 – 2020 Kindergarten Academies Host 2020 – 2021 Kindergarten Academies Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Apr-Jul Launch Event for the Kindergarten Registration in Delaware Establish November as Kindergarten Registration Month in Delaware with information on School Choice Messaging Around Kindergarten Readiness and Expectation Host Local Registration Events throughout the Month of November

First Ever Kindergarten Registration Website including School Choice Information https://www.delawarereadinessteam.com/register-for-kindergarten

Commonly Asked Questions Does my child have to be enrolled in kindergarten? Yes, it is mandatory in the state of Delaware to be enrolled in school at the age of 5 years. How old does my child need to be to enroll in kindergarten? Your child must be 5 years old by August 31 to begin kindergarten for the new school year.

Kindergarten Registration- Where do I Start? Find Your School—Locator Tool Click the link for the Department of Education website ‘Locator Tool,’ Enter your address or development/neighborhood, and Locate your school. Find your School—Mapping Click the link for the Department of Education website ‘Mapping Tool,’ Enter your address, and

Kindergarten Registration- What’s Next ? Contact the school/district to request registration information. Complete paperwork for the district identified as your home school Gather the materials you need to register your child Kindergarten Information Folders Get Ready for Kindergarten Checklist Contact list for all districts and charters Submit paperwork and other documents *Note- Kindergarten screening may occur later. Check with your school about any additional documents required for registration.

What is School Choice? School Choice is a program that began in the 1996-1997 school year. The purpose of the program is to increase access to educational opportunity for all children throughout the State regardless of where they may live. Families who reside in the district where they live will have first choice to their local school. It is only after local families enroll that open spots will be filled through School Choice applicants.

What is School Choice? School choice enrollment opens between or after the first Monday of November and closes on or before the second Wednesday in January. A family enrolling their child in kindergarten may submit the standard application form up until the first day of the school year for enrollment in kindergarten during that school year. (If spots are available)

Where Do I Begin if I Want to Choice? Register in your home district To begin understanding School Choice visit https://www.schoolchoicede.org/. You will find: list of participating public school districts and charter schools in Delaware. Application for applying for the school of your choice. Deadlines for application (January 9th or up until the start of the school year)

Next Steps Thank you for attending! We look forward to seeing you at upcoming Kindergarten Academies.