Kindergarten pre-registration deadline is approaching
Families that have children entering kindergarten this coming school year are encouraged to participate in pre-registration, still taking place through Friday, Nov. 1.
The Kindergarten Pre-Registration period, now in its second year, began on Sept. 23 with about three weeks to go.
“We want to make sure that everyone knows that we are doing the pre-registration right now for students going into kindergarten,” Executive Director of Student Enrollment, Soretta Ralph, said.
Children must be pre-registered at the Student Enrollment Office, which is located inside the Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd. The hours in which enrollment specialists are available are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Documents required for pre-registration include the parent’s photo ID; child’s physical exam, dated within the last year; Florida Certificate of Immunization; proof of address; original birth certificate; Social Security card if available and custody documents if applicable.
Students must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2020 to enter kindergarten in August 2020.
Last year was the first year the district opened a pre-registration period for incoming kindergarten students.
“We managed to enroll about 1,200 students last year,” she said.
Pre-registration cuts down the time parents have to wait when the traditional enrollment period opens in January, Ralph said.
“It gives them the opportunity to ask specific questions they want to ask,” she said of parents. “It’s a lot more peaceful environment. We have about 6,000 to 6,500 students in kindergarten across the district. We want to make sure we don’t leave anyone out.”
Currently at the halfway mark of pre-registration, 542 students have been signed up.
School selection is not part of the process as the School District of Lee County uses a “school choice” lottery-style process for assignment by zone. Cape Coral is in the district’s West Zone,
After the child is pre-registered, a student number will be assigned and a pre-printed application will be mailed in January, providing parents with the opportunity to go online and rank their schools in order of preference to finalize the enrollment process.
Ralph said they have a much better chance of getting into the school of their choice with pre-registration.
“We are about making sure parents are pleased with their school. A lot depends on where the parents live, works and where the babysitter lives. We want to make sure we meet their needs,” Ralph said.
Parents are asked to reach out to the schools of choice in their zone and schedule a tour, visit, or watch for the elementary school’s open house.
The first application period will take place from Jan. 13, 2020 through Feb. 28, 2020.