Bring That Birth Certificate For Kindergarten Signup

Attention, parents of 5-year-olds who’ll go to kindergarten this fall: Kindergarten registration is coming up.

One of the documents required is your child’s birth certificate.

“Not the one from the hospital with the little footprint on it,” said Carol Petersen of Central Valley School District.

The official one.

Can’t lay your hands on it?

If your child was born in Spokane County, the vital statistics office at the courthouse is the place to turn. A copy of your child’s birth certificate will cost you $11.

“We get calls from all over the U.S.” at this time of year asking for birth certificates, said a spokeswoman for the office. “‘We need it right away,’ they all say.”

Trent Elementary School was the first school in the Spokane Valley to hold signups for kindergarten. About 47 children were registered last week.

Parents took their little ones through a series of signups, including checks with speech, hearing and vision specialists and other specialists who look at motor skills.

After physical therapist Jan Howard watched one little boy, she explained that the brief contact allows her to set a baseline for general coordination for each child.

Howard gave several parents a list of activities to work into summer time fun, including jump rope, rolling down a hill, kickball, soccer or other running games.

Kindergarten signup also requires immunization records. The Valley Center offers low-cost immunization clinics each Monday, through the Spokane County Health District.

All children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to enter kindergarten. Parents of children who will be 4 on or before Aug. 31 can have their children considered for ECEAP Early Childhood Education Assistance Program. It is free program, similar to Head Start.

Kindergarten signup will continue at East Valley schools in this order: Otis Orchards, Friday; Trentwood, May 10; Skyview, May 17; and East Farms, May 31.

Central Valley elementary schools and West Valley’s Millwood School will hold kindergarten signups May 6-10.

Valley Christian School will hold its kindergarten open house on May 3.

, DataTimes