Kindergarten registration now open as region shifts to online signup model

Due to school closings as a result of the coronavirus, Kindergarten Registration for the greater Richmond region has shifted from a single-day signup in mid-April to a virtual, online format that began on April 30th and continuing throughout the spring.

School systems in 15 cities and counties across the region want parents of incoming kindergartners to know that “springtime is on-time” for Kindergarten Registration. In order for school divisions to plan for the fall, it is critical that they have registration information in the spring to plan for resource allocation at each elementary school.

“Now is the time to let your school know that your child will be arriving in the fall,” said Rich Schultz, executive director of Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond, a regional school readiness collaborative that works with school divisions regionwide to promote the importance of springtime registration. “Parents are encouraged to reach out as soon as possible and complete the online registration, or via hard copy forms provided by your school division. Your local school division will contact you to complete the process.”

Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond offers a number of helpful resources and tips for regional kindergarten registration on its website at www.smartbeginningsrva.org, along with a list of “Frequently Asked Questions” for families who are registering their children. In addition, parents will find a section for each school division in the region that will provide links and resources for each school. Parents are advised to utilize those local school division resources, as registration processes and documentation for registration may differ by school division.

Another valuable resource is the new Basics website to promote the five simple things that families and caregivers can do to engage their children in the early years and help them grow up ready for school and ready for life. The Basics provides the framework and easy-to-use tools for educating children in fun, interactive and powerful ways. There’s also an RVA Basics Facebook page filled with videos, tips, and tools.

For more information, contact Amanda Abate Murphy at 804-874-6192 or by email at [email protected].