BOISE, Idaho — Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the Boise School District will provide free, full-day kindergarten for all elementary schools in the district.
On Thursday, the Boise School District (BSD) will hold kindergarten registration -- or an open house -- from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at each elementary school in the district for incoming kindergarten students. According to BSD, children enrolling in kindergarten for 2022-2023 must be five years old on or before Sept. 1.
During the board's Jan. 10 monthly meeting, Boise School District Trustees unanimously approved the proposal to offer free, full-day kindergarten district-wide beginning with the next school year. BSD's full proposal on full-day kindergarten can be viewed here (PDF document).
Boise Schools offer tuition-based full-day kindergarten at only 20 of the District’s 32 elementary schools currently.
“This is one of the most rewarding votes I’ve cast since joining the Board,” Dave Wagers, Board President said on the Jan. 10 approval. “The evidence is clear that full-day kindergarten is much more effective academically than half-day kindergarten. This investment in early childhood education will ensure an equitable and accessible kindergarten program for families across our district.”
Thursday's BSD kindergarten registration events give parents and students the opportunity to meet teachers and staff, learn how to prepare for full-day kindergarten, receive a kindergarten readiness packet and explore BSD's summer learning opportunities.
Those who plan to attend BSD's kindergarten registration events Thursday will need to bring the following documents in order to enroll their child for the 2022-2023 school year:
- A certified birth certificate
- A record of the student’s immunizations or an immunization exemption
- Enrollment Form, Health History, Home Language Survey Form & Verification of Residency
- Proof of residence
- If divorced, a copy of the divorce decree and custody agreement or any papers pertaining to current legal proceedings.
- If you are a custodial guardian, you will need a "Power of Attorney" document, which must be renewed every six months.
According to Boise Schools, the above information is required to enroll a child in kindergarten at a district elementary school. Parents or guardians will have 30 days to provide any missing documentation to their child's school. BSD will photocopy any documentation provided Thursday and the original documents will be returned immediately.
For information on which BSD schools are in your neighborhood or area, visit the Boise School District's list of schools here. BSD has 33 elementary schools across the district.
For more information on Boise School District's full-day kindergarten beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, watch the BSD webinar included below:
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