The Transition into Kindergarten program offers students the opportunity to meet their peers, interact with their Kindergarten teacher, and explore the school building before the school year begins.

See if your school offers the Transition into Kindergarten program and learn more.

Other Summer Opportunities

• Extended School Year (ESY) services are provided beyond the normal school year for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). More information about ESY.
• Seattle Public Schools does not offer summer preschool programming; however, families can access summer learning opportunities through community based programs.

Before starting school, each new kindergartner’s family is offered the chance to meet with their student’s teacher to begin building a home-school partnership. These meetings will be scheduled by your student’s teacher and will take place during the first days of the school year.

Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) is a process of connecting families, elementary schools and early education programs to ensure a successful transition and start of school for new kindergartners.

All Washington public elementary schools participate in WaKIDS, which includes 3 elements:

• Family Connection
• Whole-child assessment
• Early learning collaboration

Reading, talking and singing with your child is an easy way to build their vocabulary and help them get ready for school. Visiting public libraries, even before children can read, helps them to love and appreciate language books, and other media.

Libraries provide free virtual story times and activities in different languages. Checking out books and music is free. You can get a library card for your child from birth onward. Visit your local public library for more information.

• Seattle Public Library – Kids and Families resources
  • Seattle Public Library Locations
• King County Library System – Kids resources
  • King County Library Locations