FAIRFIELD — Kindergarten is a big transition for 4- and 5-year-old children and can be just as daunting for parents.
There are several things parents should know before registering their child for kindergarten. To help, here are some steps parents need to know before the first day starts:
Find a school: A child’s school is typically determined by where his or her family lives. Some school districts post maps online to help parents locate their school. But if parents have questions, they can call the district to make certain they have selected the proper one.
Prove residency: Parents must prove a child is eligible to attend the school where they register. To do this, parents need to provide two of three things. They are: a property tax payment receipt, rent payment receipt or valid property rental contract; a PG&E bill or receipt; deed or closing papers on home purchase or declaration of residency executed by the student’s parent or guardian.
Prove age: A birth certificate showing a child is the minimum age to attend kindergarten is required. The minimum age is a student turning 5 on or before Nov. 1 for the school year 2012-13. However, there are exceptions to this.
Get shots: Lastly, parents need to provide an immunization record proving a child is current on vaccinations. Parents can opt out based on personal beliefs.
