Charles Co. Online registration for kindergarten begins today, early entrance to kindergarten application posted on CCPS website

Registration begins online today for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students entering kindergarten at the start of the 2020-21 school year. State law requires students entering kindergarten to be 5 years old by Sept. 1 in the school year in which the child is registered. Parents can find out what school their child is zoned to attend by entering their home address in School Locator, a mapping system available at https://www.ccboe.com/index.php/school-locator.

Due to the school closure mandate in place, CCPS is currently closed through April 24. All kindergarten registrations for new families, as well as current CCPS families, must be completed through the online registration system. The system is available at https://www.ccboe.com/index.php/online-registration. CCPS staff is monitoring all incoming registrations. Parents in need of support with registering can email OLRsupport@ccboe.com for assistance.

Parents with students already enrolled in CCPS can register another child using an active ParentVue account. Click here to access the ParentVue login page. An Online Registration tab is available in the upper right-hand corner of all active ParentVue accounts. Click the tab to begin registration.

Parents new to CCPS must first create a ParentVue account to register online using a valid email address. Click here to start the registration process. New users must select “create new account” from the more options menu area (located underneath the word Login).

The online registration process requires users to upload document copies and/or images of required documents. A CCPS staff member will review all online registrations for required information. CCPS will process applications when schools reopen for parents who are not able to complete their child’s registration online.

All children entering CCPS must have the following information:

  • A physical examination by a physician or certified practitioner (physicals must be completed between nine months prior to and six months after entering school);
  • Proof of required immunizations against communicable diseases (Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 896 form is available online at https://www.ccboe.com/ss/forms-and-important-links/);
  • The child’s birth certificate or other acceptable proof of birth (passport/visa; physician’s certificate; baptismal or church certification; hospital certificate; or birth registration). If the child was born in Maryland, a copy of his/her birth certificate is available for purchase from the Charles County Department of Health. Call 301-609-6900 for details; and
  • Two proofs of domicile (residency). A complete list of acceptable proofs of domicile is posted on the school system website at https://www.ccboe.com/ss/verification-of-domicile/. Email OLRsupport@ccboe.com with questions about proofs of domicile.

Early kindergarten entrance

Early admission to kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year is only open to children whose fifth birthday falls between Sept. 2 and Oct. 15, 2020, and who reside in Charles County. There are rigorous admission standards and acceptance is not guaranteed. Parents must submit an application by June 15 for their child to be tested for early kindergarten admission.

The application is posted on the school system website at https://www.ccboe.com/images/registration/EE_Kindergarten_Application.pdf. Parents must complete the application, and also provide the following:

  • two proofs of domicile;
  • child’s birth certificate; and
  • child’s immunization record.

Early entrance to kindergarten applications should be mailed to: Charles County Public Schools, attention: Angela Cauthorn, Office of Early Childhood Education, 5980 Radio Station Road, La Plata, MD 20646. Staff is monitoring all incoming mail during the school closure and will receive applications. Applications will be processed as staff are available to review them. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

To be considered for early admission, children must demonstrate exceptional ability in social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Potential early admission students are tested by CCPS staff using a standardized test that includes math, reading/language arts and general knowledge for kindergarten. Applications are forwarded to the CCPS Office of Early Childhood Education for staff review. Parents will be contacted at a later date to set up a testing appointment.

Students who are admitted early to kindergarten are provisionally placed and observed for a 30-day period at the start of the school year. Acceptance does not guarantee continuation in kindergarten beyond the 30-day period. Students who do not qualify for early admission to kindergarten are not automatically placed in the prekindergarten program.

Parents interested in applying for early kindergarten admission for their child should read the information posted on the school system website at https://www.ccboe.com/images/registration/EarlyEntranceParentGuide.pdf.

Please note: due to the stay at home directive set forth by Gov. Hogan, staff are not currently available at schools and centers to assist with the application process. Families unable to upload documents or complete other parts of the application online may start the process now and finish and submit it in the future. Parents can take pictures of the required documents and upload them through the online application. Applications cannot be processed until all required documents are uploaded.

Additionally, until the school closure ends staff are not available at schools or the CCPS Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building to respond to questions over the phone or messages left on voicemails. Questions about early childhood education programs can be directed to Beth Sorsby, CCPS specialist in early childhood education, at bsorsby@ccboe.com.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,521 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
 
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