Future-Ready Kindergarten
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Is your child entering kindergarten in 2024 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. Students must live in the boundaries of elementary schools participating in the program.
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 2024-25 school year will begin in November 2024.
Who: For children the year before they are eligible to attend kindergarten. Note: children who are kindergarten-eligible should be registered for regular kindergarten. Your child must be five by August 31, 2025 to be eligible for this program. Use this age calculator for help determining age eligibility.
The FRK application process is now closed for the 2023-24 school year.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Future-Ready Kindergarten?
Future-Ready Kindergarten is a free, transitional kindergarten program that will focus on essential academic and social-emotional skills needed for school. The Future-Ready Kindergarten 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?
Classes will begin in November 2024. Classes will follow the same schedule and breaks as NTPS elementary schools.
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Where are the classes located?
The program will be offered at
- Chambers Prairie Elementary
- Horizons Elementary
- Lacey Elementary
- Lakes Elementary
- Lydia Hawk Elementary
- Seven Oaks Elementary
Students must live within their school's attendance boundary and will use the same transportation as the other elementary students if parents are unable to provide transportation.
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What is the cost?
Future-Ready Kindergarten is free for families.
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Who will teach Future-Ready classes?
Future-Ready Kindergarten classes will be taught by a certificated teacher with paraeducator support.
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What happens after students finish Future-Ready Kindergarten?
Yes. Future-Ready Kindergarten is a transitional kindergarten program. Your child will then start a full year of kindergarten during the following school year with the rest of their peers.
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How do I apply for my student to participate?
Future-Ready Kindergarten applications can be completed online: Applications have now closed for the 2023-24 school year.
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Are there pre-screening questions?
NTPS will ask three pre-qualifying questions on the application.
- Is the child currently in a preschool or early learning setting?
- What elementary school will your child attend based on your home address?
- Are they age-eligible for Kindergarten in Fall 2024? (5 years of age by August 31, 2024.)
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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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Are Future-Ready Kindergarten Students Registered Students at NTPS?
All Future-Ready Kindergarten students will need to be registered as kindergartners. After being accepted into the program, families will complete the student registration process, including dropping off registration documents at the elementary school. How registration works >>
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How does transportation work?
Because students live within their school's boundaries, they can ride the bus with the general elementary students if families cannot provide transportation.
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My child is too old for this program, what should I do?
You must register your child for kindergarten. More information on this process is available on our kindergarten page.
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My child is too young and not eligible? What should I do?
See information on other early learning programs such as Headstart and ECEAP. More program information is available on childcareawarewa.org.
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We don't live in the district boundary. Does every school district have a similar program?
Reach out to your local school district about any transitional kindergarten programs they may have.