WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Get ahead of the curve in back-to-school prep

20130603_LegWA_4790shCalling all moms, dads, and guardians – especially parents of kindergartners and first-graders eagerly awaiting the 2014-2015 school year. Most all of Washington’s public and private classrooms will reopen in a month or so.

School and school-district websites, of course, are already accepting your clicks, and school offices should be taking your calls and welcoming your visits any day now.

Rookie school-parents naturally have a ton of questions, the topmost generally involving age and immunization requirements. By midnight August 31, Washington children must be at least five years old to enter kindergarten, and six years old to start first grade. For information about exceptions that allow early admission, check with your school-district headquarters or the private-school office.

These websites — WAC 392-335-010, WAC 392-335-015, and WAC 392-335-025 — feature additional, legal information on age-requirement exceptions and fees for preadmission screening. Click me to obtain information about approved private schools here in the Evergreen State.

Talk with your school district about the specific documentation you’ll need to show. As a rule, you’ll be asked for your child’s birth certificate, immunization record, medical needs, and any previous school records, as well as your address and emergency-contact information.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is a terrific online resource.