First lady launches statewide kindergarten registration campaign

First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney launched Delaware’s first statewide kindergarten registration campaign Oct. 18 to highlight the importance of supporting Delaware’s youngest learners. The campaign, also led by Delaware Readiness Teams, encourages families and caregivers to register students for kindergarten and helps guide them through the process.

“I am proud to be honorary chair of the first-ever Delaware kindergarten registration campaign,” said Carney. “This campaign aligns with the First Chance Delaware initiative, which was created to give every child in Delaware the best possible chance to succeed. We all know that the best chance is the first chance – the best chance is a good start. And there’s nowhere that a good start matters more than in school.”

One of Gov. John Carney’s top priorities is making sure every third-grader is reading at grade level, to set them up for future success. This effort starts with high-quality early education, and late kindergarten registrations can hinder this important work.

“All Delaware children deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential in school, and kindergarten registration is an important early step in a child’s education,” said Gov. Carney. “This kindergarten registration collaboration between First Chance Delaware and Delaware Readiness Teams will be a win-win-win for families, schools and most importantly, Delaware’s children.”

This year’s kindergarten registration will include new questions about prekindergarten experiences, which will help inform the registration process.

“Our school chiefs have all committed to adding these three common questions to their local kindergarten registration packets so we as a state can better understand how children’s early childhood experiences prepare them for school,” said Susan Bunting, secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “Coupled with the results of the Delaware Early Learner Survey, this information will help our K-12 schools and the early childhood education programs in their communities partner to better prepare children to arrive in kindergarten ready for success.”

“Kindergarten registration in Delaware can be a notoriously confusing process for families, with piles of paperwork and varying deadlines around the state,” said Diane Frentzel, program manager for Delaware Readiness Teams. “But starting kindergarten on time is super important for getting kids off on the right track. It’s why the Delaware Readiness Teams are working diligently in communities getting the right information in the hands of families and providers.”

All three counties will host family engagement events throughout Kindergarten Registration Month in November. Families and caregivers of children who will be 5 years old by Aug. 31, 2019, are encouraged to register their students for kindergarten as soon as possible.