WaKIDS is a process that helps to ensure a successful start in school.
Program Details
What is WaKIDS?
WaKIDS is a process that helps to ensure children entering Kindergarten have a successful start to the K-12 experience. WaKIDS provides a statewide view where children are in development as they enter Kindergarten. This information will help shape education policy and investments.
WaKIDS has three components:
- Family Connection welcomes families into the Washington K-12 system as partners in their child’s education.
- “Whole-Child” Assessment gives kindergarten teachers information about the social and emotional, physical, cognitive and linguistic development of the children in their classrooms, so they may tailor their instruction to the individual needs of each child.
- Early Learning Collaboration aligns practices of early learning professionals and kindergarten teachers to support smooth transitions for children.
Support
What role does Early Care & Education provide?
Early Care & Education provides professional development, technical assistance and support, including training in the use of the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment process, to kindergarten teachers who are implementing WaKIDS (Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills) – our state’s model designed to strengthen the kindergarten transition process.
Helpful Links
WaKIDS is a partnership paid for with state, federal and private funding. It is mandated for state-funded full-day kindergarten programs by ESHB 2586 The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) work together to oversee WaKIDS.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration
In Washington State, parents enroll their child directly through their local public school district (or a private school if they choose). While each district has its own registration process, the overall steps are very similar across the state.
Who is eligible?
A child is generally eligible to start kindergarten if they are 5 years old on or before August 31 of the school year they will attend. Some districts offer a process for early entrance for children with birthdays after August 31 who demonstrate exceptional readiness.
How to enroll:
- Find your neighborhood school:
- Use your home address to determine your assigned elementary school.
- Most districts have an online school boundary lookup tool or you can use a county Geographic Information System (GIS) tool.
- Complete the enrollment application:
- Most Washington school districts allow families to register online.
- Paper or in-person registration is typically available if needed.
- Submit required documents. Schools generally ask for:
- Proof of your child’s age (birth certificate, passport, or another accepted document)
- Proof of residency (such as a utility bill or lease)
- Immunization records or a Certificate of Immunization Status
- Parent or guardian identification (requirements vary by district) (Office of Education Ombuds)
- Complete health and emergency forms:
- Emergency contacts
- Medical information
- Home language survey
- Transportation and other district-specific forms
- Attend kindergarten events (if offered). Many districts invite families to:
- Kindergarten orientation
- Meet-the-teacher events
- Readiness screenings or WaKIDS family connections
When should parents enroll?
Most districts open kindergarten registration between January and March for the following fall, although families can usually enroll at any time before school begins. Enrolling early helps schools plan staffing and gives families access to orientation events.
If a family needs help:
Washington’s Washington State Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds helps families with school enrollment questions, including situations where required documents are unavailable or families are experiencing homelessness. Schools must work with families to remove barriers to enrollment. (Office of Education Ombuds)
Program Contacts
Who to Contact
ECE: Real Stories. Real Impact.
Get Social with Us
Now Enrolling Birth to 5 Programs!
Prenatal support and child care services for birth to 3 years old. Free part day and full day preschool available for eligible families, with openings throughout Clark County.
Early Care & Education News
Retired ESD 112 bus driver helps bring 100 backpacks to local students
After retiring from ESD 112 on July 1, Ruby Atkins found another way to support local children and families. Atkins, who worked as an ESD 112 school bus driver for 27 years, helped connect the [...]
ESD 112 expands free preschool opportunities across Southwest Washington
Families across Southwest Washington have more opportunities to enroll their children in free, high-quality preschool for the 2026-27 school year. Enrollment is now open at all ESD 112 Early Care & Education centers, including [...]
Bright beginnings, stronger communities: How early learning is transforming lives in Southwest Washington
In classrooms, early learning centers, and homes across Southwest Washington, a quiet transformation is taking place: one that begins with high-quality early care and education. These programs do more than just prepare young children [...]
Weathering winter school delays and closures
Winter is approaching, and with it comes the possibility of snow and inclement weather across our ESD 112 region! Just when you think you've settled into a routine, you get thrown a curveball: an [...]
ESD 112 equalizes educational opportunities for learning communities through innovative partnerships, responsive leadership, and exceptional programs.