1. Understanding Kindergarten Registration in Delaware1

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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 +

5. About the Delaware Readiness Teams

6. 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

7. 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) Delaware Early Learner Survey Key Findings.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Current State: Process
School Year
School Year
Sept. 30 Decision to Hire More Teachers and/or split classrooms
Teachers Hired for 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

12. 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

14. First Ever Kindergarten Registration Website including School Choice Information

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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.

18. What is School Choice?
School Choice is a program that began in the 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.

19. 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)

20. Where Do I Begin if I Want to Choice?
Register in your home district
To begin understanding School Choice visit
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)

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