Enrolling your child in a
District 196 school

A new baby? Congratulations!

1. Register your baby for the census - A new baby is any child, under the age of 5, who is new to Independent School District 196. It is important for our future planning to get all children on our census files. In return, you will receive updates from the District 196 Early Childhood Family Services program and preschool screening information before kindergarten. Please complete our census form online or call 651-423-7639 to complete the form over the phone. Thank you.

Steps to registering for kindergarten

1. 
   1Kindergarten eligibility - A child is eligible for kindergarten if he or she will be 5 years old on or before September 1 of the year he or she will begin school. See below for information on early entrance to kindergarten. The State of Minnesota requires that all children complete a free screening to detect any health and/or developmental concerns prior to entering kindergarten in a public school. In our district, screening occurs between three-and-a-half and four years of age. This allows time for a preschool experience or other social/educational opportunities to benefit the child. Please complete your child's Early Childhood Screening before their 4th birthday.
   
   NOTE: District 196 Community Education has several programs to help ease a child's transition into school by providing him/her with experiences that focus on helping your child to participate in group settings, follow rules and routines and become familiar with their elementary school. To find out more about these programs visit our District 196 Community Education School Readiness Preschool section. More information about early childhood learning opportunities can be found here.
   
   Registration information for this program will be included in the kindergarten registration information provided to you by your school. The Summer Bridge to School fee is determined by family income.
2. 2 Find your attendance area - If you are new to the district or have a new kindergarten student, you will need to enroll your child at the District 196 school they will attend based on your attendance area. For help determining your neighborhood school, use the school locator on the district website or call
   651-423-7640.
3. 3 Choose half-day or full-day kindergarten - Kindergarten families have a choice of either half-day kindergarten or a full-day experience called Kindergarten Plus (K-Plus) at all 18 elementary schools. Kindergarten Plus is a fee-based program with scholarships available for those who qualify. Kindergarten Plus requires its own application, which is usually due near the end of January each year for enrollment the following school year. For more information about this option, visit our Kindergarten Plus page or call 651-423-7933. Families who choose half-day kindergarten for their child do not register online and should visit the elementary school in their attendance area.
4. 4 Decide whether to enroll your child in a Magnet School - Three of the district's 18 elementary schools are magnet schools. All three magnet schools offer the standard district curriculum, but each one has a concentrated theme woven into the district's core curriculum. The three magnet schools are:
   • Cedar Park Elementary Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School;
   • Diamond Path Elementary School of International Studies, and
   • Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts and Science.
     
     
   Half- day kindergarten and Kindergarten Plus (K-Plus) are available at all three magnet schools. Both the magnet school and K-Plus programs require separate applications, however both applications can be filled out at the same time when completed online. View our magnet school section for more information about magnet school registration and deadlines.
   
   The following students will be automatically enrolled to attend a magnet school and do not need to fill out a magnet school application online:
   
   
   1. 1. Students who live in the attendance area of a magnet school they want to attend
   2. 2. Students who are District 196 residents and attend daycare in the attendance area of a magnet school they want to attend, in accordance with Policy 502, Student Transfers (daycare transfer form required)
   
   

   If you choose:	Action to take/deadline:
   Half-day kindergarten at the school in your attendance area	No application necessary; register at the school in your attendance area
   Half-day kindergarten at a magnet school that is NOT in your attendance area	Submit magnet school application (Deadline: January)
   K-Plus at the school in your attendance area	Submit K-Plus application and $170 deposit (Deadline: January)
   K-Plus at a magnet school	Submit K-Plus AND magnet school applications and $170 K-Plus deposit (Deadline: January)
   NOTE: For key dates (including specific deadlines) to enroll in K-Plus and/or magnet schools, please view our information sections on K-Plus and Magnet Schools.

5. 5 Get your health immunizations - Specific Minnesota immunization requirements exist for elementary, middle and high school students. Your child may not attend school in Minnesota without proof of proper immunizations or a signed statement of conscientious objection. There is no grace period. Talk with your child's healthcare provider and/or school nurse about the current immunization requirements for admission to school. View our entrance requirements page to see the requirements for your child's grade level and ensure all immunization conditions are met prior to the the first day of school. The Dakota County Public Health Department (www.co.dakota.mn.us or 952-891-7500) maintains a list of public immunization clinics.
6. 6 What to bring with you to school - What to bring when you come to school to register your child for kindergarten:
   
   
   • A birth certificate confirming your child's date of birth (your child must be five years old on or before September 1 of the year he or she will begin school);
   • Proof of proper immunizations, and
   • Proof of early childhood screening.

Steps to open enrolling your out-of-district child in District 196 (Interdistrict)

1. 
   1 Complete state enrollment options application - Out-of-district students who want to transfer into District 196 must complete the State Enrollment Options Program application. Please submit the application by January 15 for enrollment in the following school year. Information about student transfers is available in District Policy 502, Student Transfers and in Administrative Regulation 502.4.1AR, Student Transfers: State Enrollment Options Program. NOTE: If a student wants to transfer out of District 196, please contact the school district the student would like to attend.
   
   
2. 2 Required immunizations - Specific Minnesota immunization requirements exist for elementary, middle and high school students. View our entrance requirements page to see the requirements for your child's grade level. When all immunization conditions have been met, bring a copy of your student's immunization record to the school prior to the student's first day. The Dakota County Public Health Department (www.co.dakota.mn.us or 952-891-7500) maintains a list of public immunization clinics.

Transferring your child from one school to another within District 196 (Intradistrict)

1. In order to balance enrollment between schools, the district limits transfers to any particular school based on current and projected enrollment compared with building capacity. Schools where enrollment exceeds or is projected to exceed building capacity by at least 5 percent are closed to most transfer requests.
   
2. 
   
6. K-5
8. K-5 intradistrict transfer - elementary school students (grades k-5) may request a transfer from one District 196 elementary school to another based on the following situations:
   
   • Daycare - if the student will be receiving daycare in the attendance area of a school other than the student's designated school
     (Transfer application for daycare reasons)
   • Intent to change residency - if the student's parent or guardian intends to move to a new residence within the school year and designates a mailing address for their new residence (Transfer application based on intent to change residency)
   • Parent/guardian/adult student request – based on space available in the requested school (Transfer application based on parent/guardian/adult student request)

   For more information about an intradistrict transfer, contact your child's school or the district's Student Information Office at 651-423-7640.
   
   
   
   

9. 6-12 Middle and high school intradistrict transfer - secondary school students (grades 6-12) may request a transfer from one District 196 secondary school to another based on the following situations:
   
   • Intent to change residency - if the student's parent or guardian, or the adult student (age 18 or over) intends to move to a new residence within the school year and designates a mailing address for their new residence (Transfer application based on intent to change residency)
   • Continued enrollment of an 11th or 12th grade student - if an 11th or 12th grade student has been enrolled in a District 196 school and their parent or guardian (or the adult student, if age 18 or older) has moved to the attendance area of another District 196 school
   • Parent/guardian/adult student request – based on space available in the requested school (Transfer application based on parent/guardian/adult student request)