School Entrance Age

Children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30 of the school year to be eligible to attend kindergarten. There are no exceptions to this state requirement.

Daylong prekindergarten programs for at-risk 4-year-olds are available at a few elementary schools. Also, there is a prekindergarten program for children with disabilities who must be 2 years old by Sept. 30 to enroll. Each year, Chesterfield County Public Schools conducts Child Find to locate children with disabilities who need special education services or Section 504 services. If you suspect your child may have a disability, contact the Office of Special Education at 594-1732 or your child’s home school.

Residency

Students must reside with a parent or legal guardian in Chesterfield County to attend Chesterfield County Public Schools. The school system may re-verify residency any year a student is enrolled in Chesterfield County Public Schools. Students attend the school in their attendance area unless a waiver is granted or they are accepted into a center-based  or specialty program.

Registration

New students should register during office hours at their home school. For school attendance zone information, use the find my school feature or call 594-1726.

To register for school, proof of county residency is required by providing one of these documents:

• lease for at least one year or deed of a residence or property in Chesterfield County
• contract or lease free of contingencies to occupy a Chesterfield residence within two months of the date of enrollment
• resident manager’s letter on company letterhead stating that residence is a corporate residence in Chesterfield
• weekly receipts for temporary residence in a hotel or motel for up to 60 days (requires renewal or evidence of more permanent residency within 60 days of enrollment)

The student’s Social Security number is requested.

In addition, a student enrolling in a Virginia public school for the first time must provide

• certified original birth certificate
• record of a physical examination (performed within the past 12 months)
• updated records listing dates of each state-required immunization. Documentation is required of age-appropriate immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTP), polio, hepatitis  and varicella (chickenpox). A booster of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) is required for all students entering sixth grade if at least five years have passed since their last tetanus-containing vaccine; documentation of the tetanus-containing vaccine is required. Three doses of properly spaced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine are required for girls, with the first dose administered before entering sixth grade. Parents or guardians may elect that their child not receive the HPV vaccine. Documentation of HPV exemption or vaccination is not required; if provided, documentation will be accepted by the school.

It is helpful if transferring students provide a report card from their previous school and, if applicable, a copy of an Individualized Education Program. After registration is completed, the Chesterfield school will request a transfer of records from the previous school.

Kindergarten Registration Day

Forms

When is kindergarten registration?
Kindergarten registration will take place between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on April 19, 2012.

Where do parents register their children for kindergarten?
Parents should register their children at the school they are zoned to attend. Parents can use the find my school feature to identify the correct school or call 594-1726.

What is the age requirement for kindergarten?
Children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30. There are no exceptions.

What information should parents bring to registration?

• parent’s photo ID
• child’s certified original birth certificate
• proof of county residency by providing one of these documents:
  • lease for at least one year or deed of a residence or property in Chesterfield County
  • contract or lease free of contingencies to occupy a Chesterfield residence within two months of the date of enrollment
  • resident manager’s letter on company letterhead stating that residence is a corporate residence in Chesterfield
  • weekly receipts for temporary residence in a hotel or motel for up to 60 days (requires renewal or evidence of more permanent residency within 60 days of enrollment)
• child’s Social Security number (requested)

What items are required by the first day of school?

• record of a physical examination within the past 12 months
• updated records listing dates of each state-required immunization

Does the child need to accompany the parent to registration?
Yes. On registration day, children will be given the Brigance kindergarten screening, which usually takes 15 minutes.

What is the Brigance kindergarten screening?
The Brigance kindergarten screening provides teachers with information about a range of student skills. It is one of the most widely used screenings.

What is the purpose of the screening?
The primary purpose is to obtain a broad sampling of the student’s skills to help the kindergarten teacher plan appropriate instruction. The screening also provides information to parents on skill areas needing reinforcement before school begins.

What if a parent is unable to attend on registration day?
Please make every effort to register your child on registration day. If this is not possible, call the school to set up an appointment as soon as possible.

Applying for Prekindergarten

Chesterfield offers a limited number of prekindergarten spots in these 12 schools to provide school-readiness skills to eligible children with the greatest need: Bellwood, Bensley, Beulah, Chalkley, Marguerite Christian, Davis, Ettrick, Falling Creek, Harrowgate, Hopkins, Providence and Reams Road elementary schools.

Children who will be 4 years old by Sept. 30, who show an educational need and who live in the school attendance zone may apply for prekindergarten. There are no exceptions to age and residency requirements. If you are unsure which school zone you live in, call 594-1726 or use the find my school feature online.

To Apply

Parents should take their children to one of these application opportunities — choose the one that is most convenient for your family:

• March 15, 2012, 1-6 p.m. Fulghum Center, 4003 Cogbill Road
• March 19, 2012, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Fulghum Center, 4003 Cogbill Road
• March 22, 2012, 4-7 p.m. Davis Elementary, 415 S. Providence Road
• April 2, 2012, 4-7 p.m. Harrowgate Elementary, 15501 Harrowgate Road
• April 4, 2012, 4-7 p.m. Fulghum Center, 4003 Cogbill Road

Between Jan. 17 and April 6, parents may apply by calling 279-7357 to make an appointment.

No matter which date or location you select, your application will be reviewed equally. Applications are not taken on a first-come, first-served basis, but applications taken after April 19 will be placed on a waiting list. Only a limited number of prekindergarten spots are available — applying does not guarantee acceptance.

Questions?

Call 279-7357, 279-7352 or 594-1671.

What to bring

So that they can complete a brief screening, children should accompany their parents when applying for prekindergarten. The child’s Social Security number is requested, and these items must be presented for an application to be taken:

• parent’s photo ID
• child’s certified original birth certificate
• proof of income by providing either two recent pay stubs, a W-2, a tax form, TANF verification or a letter from an employer indicating period of employment and salary
• proof of county residency by providing one of these documents:
  • lease for at least one year or deed of a residence or property in Chesterfield County
  • contract or lease free of contingencies to occupy a Chesterfield residence within two months of the date of enrollment
  • resident manager’s letter on company letterhead stating that residence is a corporate residence in Chesterfield
  • weekly receipts for temporary residence in a hotel or motel for up to 60 days (requires renewal or evidence of more permanent residency within 60 days of enrollment)

Form