Washington State and Oak Harbor Public Schools guidelines require that students entering Kindergarten in the fall must be five years of age on or before August 31. However, a child whose birth date falls on or between September 1 and October 31 may enter kindergarten if they meet the early entrance eligibility requirements. 

The early entrance process involves an objective evaluation of your child’s cognitive, fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, communication, and social-emotional development facilitated by a certificated teacher.  Learn more about Early Entrance to Kindergarten by reading School Board Procedure 3110.1P and kindergarten readiness guidance.
 
Timeline: 

• Application opens annually on April 1 in conjunction with Oak Harbor Public Schools kindergarten registration. Application must be submitted by April 21. 
• Following the submission of your application, you will be invited via email to attend the Early Entrance to Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, April 24 at 6:00 pm at the Oak Harbor Public Schools District Office. 
• If your child meets screening criteria, he/she will be invited to participate in a one-on-one assessment with a certificated teacher.  
• Following the assessment, the district’s Early Entrance Kindergarten Multi-Disciplinary Team will determine eligibility for early entrance to kindergarten.  Families will be notified of the decision via email no later than the last day of school for Oak Harbor Public Schools.
• It is highly recommended that families enroll in a preschool or daycare program for the upcoming school year until you receive your child’s final eligibility notification for early entrance to kindergarten.

Questions? Contact Liz Ritz, Director of Teaching and Learning, lritz@ohsd.net