Future-Ready Kindergarten
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Is your child entering kindergarten next year and not currently in preschool?
North Thurston Public Schools is offering a program to provide a free, early entrance kindergarten, called Future-Ready Kindergarten for children who are scheduled to enter kindergarten in the fall.
What: Future-Ready Kindergarten is a transitional kindergarten program that will focus on essential academic and social emotional skills needed for school.
When: Classes for the 2023-24 school year will begin in either fall 2023 or January 2024, the exact date to be determined.
Who: For children the year before they are eligible to attend kindergarten. Note: children who are kindergarten-eligible should be registered for regular kindergarten.
How: Our 2022-23 school year Future-Ready Kindergarten classes are currently full.
Applications for the upcoming 2023-24 school year are now being accepted, with additional program details coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Future-Ready Kindergarten?
Future-Ready K is a free, transitional kindergarten program that will focus on essential academic and social emotional skills needed for school. The Future-Ready K program helps ensure that students enter kindergarten ready and are meeting or exceeding grade level standards by the end of the third grade.
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When are classes held?
WaKIDS Family Connection meetings will be held January 4-6, 2023. Classes will begin on January 9th, 2023. Future Ready Kindergarten will follow the same schedule and breaks as elementary schools.
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Where are the classes located?
The program will be offered at Chambers Prairie Elementary School, Lacey Elementary School, and Seven Oaks Elementary School with students who reside within those attendance boundaries. Future Ready Kindergarten students will be able to access the elementary general education school transportation within their attendance areas, if parents are unable to parent transport.
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What is the cost?
Future-Ready Kindergarten is free to families.
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Who will teach Future-Ready classes?
Future-Ready K classes will be taught by a certificated teacher with paraeducator support.
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Will students still go to Kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year?
Yes. Future Ready Kindergarten is a transitional kindergarten program. Your child will then start a full year of kindergarten during the 2023-2024 school year with the rest of their peers.
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How do I apply for my student to participate?
Future Ready K Qualifying Applications can be completed online by visiting the school website for families who reside within the boundaries of those 4 schools.
Priority is given to applications submitted by November 30, 2022.
Applications for the 2022-23 school year are now closed.
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Are there pre-screening questions?
NTPS will ask three pre-qualifying questions on the Qualifying Application.
- Is the child currently in a preschool or early learning setting?
- What elementary school will your child attend based on your home address: Chambers Prairie Elementary, Lacey Elementary, or Seven Oaks Elementary Find My School Link
- Are they age-eligible for Kindergarten in Fall 2023? (5 years of age by August 31, 2023.)
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What happens after I turn in the application?
Families will be contacted to set up a screening date for their child or notified that their child was not selected.
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What is screening like for my child?
The screening will be done by early learning staff before the child starts the program. Families will be present for the screening. The screening will focus on kindergarten readiness skills. The screening is short and will take approximately 20 minutes.
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How will I find out if my child has been selected?
If your child goes through the screening process, you will be contacted letting you know if your child has been selected or not.
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How are children recruited for Future-Ready Kindergarten?
An informational letter will be emailed to families at Chambers Prairie Elementary, Lacey Elementary, and Seven Oaks Elementary. Information will also be available to families on the elementary school website.
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How are Future-Ready Kindergarten students registered?
All Future-Ready Kindergarten students will need to be registered in Skyward as kindergarteners. After being accepted into the program, families will complete the on-line registration and will drop off registration documents at the elementary school.
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What if I have other questions?
You are welcome to contact your elementary school office.
