Enroll Kindergartners Now For Howard County Public School System

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Children who will turn five as of Sept. 1 must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year. To start the enrollment process, a parent or guardian must complete the online registration form.

Each child’s school will contact a parent or guardian to schedule a virtual meeting to complete the registration process. During this virtual meeting, the adult will be asked to verify parental relationship and submit any additional required documentation.

If a child is old enough to attend kindergarten but a delay in school attendance is in the child’s best interest, per Board of Education Policy 9000 Implementation Procedures – Student Enrollment, a parent or guardian can exempt him or her from mandatory school attendance for one year by completing a kindergarten waiver form. Following the one-year waiver, a parent or guardian must register the child for kindergarten.

If a child already is enrolled in kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year but it has been determined to be in his or her best interest to withdraw from kindergarten, file a kindergarten waiver form to delay kindergarten attendance until the following school year.

Complete information on enrollment in Howard County public schools can be found on the district's enrollment page.