Kindergarten FAQ
General questions and answers about enrolling your child in kindergarten.
What is the minimum age requirement for entering kindergarten?
Children are required to be five years old on September 1 of the school calendar year in which the child attends school.
What kindergarten program is being offered?
The Centennial School District provides all day, every day kindergarten at no cost to parents. The district does not offer a half-day program, however, per Minnesota Statute, parents can pick up their child mid-day. If you are interested in learning more about this option, please contact your school principal.
Why does the school district only offer all day, every day kindergarten?
All day kindergarten leads to increased learning along with social and emotional development. It also provides students with additional time to learn and teachers have additional time for enrichment.
What are the features of the all day kindergarten program?
Get a Sneak Peek into Kindergarten through a series of short videos designed for parents, caregivers, and the future kindergarten student. Kindergarten students participate in reading, math, social studies, science, physical education, music, media, recess, and technology.
Get a Sneak Peek into Kindergarten at Centennial Schools
What are the elementary start and end times?
All day Kindergarten: 9:22am-3:52pm
Mid-day Pick-up: Approximately 12:15pm, based on building schedule
Kids Club (before and after school day care program): 6:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Can families attend all day kindergarten two or three days a week and pickup mid-day the opposite days?
No. Parents must select one of the options: All day, every day kindergarten or you can pick up your child at the end of the midday session (approximately 12:15 p.m. based on building schedule).
Can a child switch from the mid-day pick-up option to the all day, every day program?
Yes. Ideally students will start the year in the all day program; however, if that is not the case, the District will allow a student to switch to the all day, every day program once the school year has begun. This is a family decision, but once made, the student should remain in the all day, every day program for the remainder of the school year.
How does the lunch process work?
Students in all day kindergarten attend lunch supervised by school staff, just as students in grades 1-5. Students may bring their own lunch. All students receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every day their student is at school.
What transportation is provided?
The District provides transportation for kindergarten students enrolled all day who live outside the kindergarten walk area and attend the school that serves their neighborhood. Children who will be pulled out at midday can access district transportation before school, but parents will be responsible for picking up their child at midday (approximately 12:15 p.m. based on building schedule).
How does transportation to kindergarten work?
Bus transportation is available for children in the school’s attendance area who live outside the kindergarten walk area. Walk areas for each school are available for viewing on the schools web site www.isd12.org under “Parents”, “Busing and Transportation.”
• A daycare address may be selected as the pick up or drop off location if the daycare is within the same school attendance boundary as your home.
• For those who qualify for busing, transportation must be consistent all week. Transportation to and from different addresses on various days is not provided.
• If parents are planning to pick up their kindergarten student mid-day, the student must be picked up every day at the same time (12:15 p.m.); transportation will not be provided by the District if picked up mid-day.
How do I enroll my student?
You may enroll your student online.
How to Enroll Your Student
What if I want to enroll my child in an elementary outside my boundary?
If you wish your child to attend another elementary school within the School District, you need to submit a completed Optional Transfer application. See deadlines posted on the form. Each request will be reviewed by the District.
- Open-enrollment (non-resident students)
If you are a non-resident family wishing to enroll your student in the Centennial School District, you must submit a completed Open Enrollment Application by January 15. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance/denial status by early February and then building assignments for Open Enrollment are mailed mid-April. These application forms are available on the district website or by contacting the school of interest.
Open Enrollment Information
Before and after school childcare
Childcare is available through Kids Club from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at an additional cost. Kids Club can be contacted at 763-792-6193. Kids Club qualifies for county childcare assistance. For more information, call 763-717-7711. Tax credits or deductions are available through the State based on your tax situation.
Kids Club Information
Do you have questions, or need additional information?
Please contact Wendy Schroeder at wschroeder@isd12.org