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Washington State has age requirement laws for entry into public school kindergarten and first grade. School districts and private schools are permitted to have Early Entry policies in order to enroll students with birthdays after the age cutoff dates.
Kindergarten Age Requirement:
Age 5 by August 31st to enter Kindergarten -
See State Law.
Exceptions to Age Requirement:
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Districts may choose to have an Early Entry policy. Contact your school
district. See
State Law.
- Some private kindergarten programs allow children to enter with birthdays
after August 31st. If your child is not five years of age by August 31st and you
enroll your child in a private kindergarten, you need to be sure the
kindergarten is on the
Approved Private Schools list. If the school is not approved, the
kindergarten experience may be considered preschool when transferring to a
public school.
See State Law.
First Grade Age Requirement:
Age 6 by August 31st to enter First Grade -
See State Law.Exceptions to Age Requirement:
-
Districts may choose to have an Early Entry policy. Contact your school
district.
See State Law.
-
A child who is not 6 years of age by August 31st but has successfully
completed a State Approved Kindergarten program may be eligible to enter
first grade. Contact your school district. Check OSPI website for
Approved Private Schools.
Moving to Washington State from Another State or Country:
If you move to
Washington from a state or country with different age requirements, contact your
local
school or district office about appropriate grade placement.
Documents You Need To Enroll Your Child in School
It is helpful to take the following documents with you when enrolling your child for school:
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A copy of the child's Birth Certificate
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Immunization Record and medical needs
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Your address
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Emergency Contact Information
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Any previous school records
Please note: If for some reason you do not have these documents, you
can still enroll your child in school. Your school or district office will
be able to help you.
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