Kindergarten Enrollment

  • Kindergarten Guide2024-2025 Open House Events Now Scheduled

    Please call the Welcome Center to schedule an appointment for assistance.

    • 320-370-8116 (English)
    • 320-370-8117 (Spanish)
    • 320-370-8118 (Somali)
     

    Expanded Language Immersion Options

    Dual Language Immersion in Spanish will be offered at Clearview and Westwood Elementary Schools, and Dual Language Immersion in Somali will be offered at Discovery and Talahi Community Schools. At Clearview, kindergartners in the fall of 2023 will transition to a dual immersion program in Spanish from full immersion. In a dual language immersion program, or two-way immersion, the goal is for students to receive instruction for at least half the day in the target language and half the day in English. In a full immersion program, students are immersed in a second language while they learn math, reading, writing, social studies, science, health and other subjects. (Specialty classes such as art may be taught in English.) Fall 2023 will mark the first year for Dual Language Immersion programming at Westwood and provide open enrollment opportunities for neighboring north and west school districts.
     
    Dual Language Immersion programs in Somali will be piloted for kindergartners for the first time in Fall 2023 at Discovery Community School for the Discovery and Oak Hill attendance areas, and at Talahi Community School, serving the Talahi and Lincoln attendance areas. This pilot program will be the first Dual Language Immersion Somali program in the state of Minnesota.
     
    Current Spanish Immersion students at Clearview will remain in full immersion programming. Chinese immersion students at Madison will remain in full immersion programming. Visit our Language Immersion website for more information.

    School of Attendance

    Verify student’s resident district and attendance area school. Click HERE to view boundaries. To attend a school or program outside the attendance area (resident students) or attend a District 742 school or program as a non-resident, an application must be submitted and be approved for a transfer before enrolling.

    Age of Entrance

    To be eligible for kindergarten, students must be five years of age on Sept. 1 of the school year for which admission is requested. Verification of birth must be provided to validate student’s age. If age requirements are not met for kindergarten, preschool programs are available. Early entrance into kindergarten is an option in some instances. Please review the Early Entrance to Kindergarten web page for more information and online application.


    Early Childhood Screening

    Kindergarten Readiness Expectations Minnesota state law requires Early Childhood Screening for all children entering kindergarten in a public school. Ideally, children should complete this between the ages of 3 ½ and 4. If this FREE screening has not been completed, please contact Early Childhood Education at 320-370-8250 or register online HERE.

    Immunizations

    For the safety of all children, Minnesota state law requires written proof that the child has been immunized against:

    • 5 DPT (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis)
    • 4 Polio
    • 2 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
    • Series of 3 hepatitis B and 2 varicella

    Immunization records must be returned to the school nurse by Aug. 15 before the start of school. If there is a medical reason for not receiving immunizations or if families conscientiously object to the immunizations, complete section 2 of the Immunization Form.