Information for Preschool Enrollment, Kindergarten Enrollment, Sixth Grade Enrollment, First-Time Enrollment in a Kentucky Public School & Immunizations
Early Childhood Preschool/Head Start Program Requirements
A child may qualify for the preschool program by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Four years old on or before August 1 and qualify by income based on State guidelines, OR
- Four years old with an identified disability or speech delay, OR
- Three years old with an identified disability or speech delay (includes children whose 4th birthday is after August 1 of the current school year)
To apply for the program, please complete an application for your child and submit it to the address printed at the top of the page. You may also take it to any Hardin County elementary school for submission.
The application will be processed, and you will be contacted to schedule an appointment for your child. You may also contact our office at 270-769-8911 or 270-769-8957 to check on the status of the application.
If your child qualifies, the following items will be needed:
1. Proof of age – A copy of your child’s certified birth certificate or other reliable proof of identity and age along with an affidavit of the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate (HC Policy 09.121).
2. Current Kentucky immunization certificate is due within (2) two weeks of your child’s first day of enrollment (required by 702 KAR 1:160). Military families have 30 days to comply as indicated in the Interstate Commission Compact.
3. Physical Exam form (well-child visit) dated within I year prior to your child’s first day of enrollment and meeting the requirements of the Preventive Health Care Exam Form as required by 702 KAR 1:160
4. Vision Exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist no later than January 1 of the current school year (KRS 156.160 (1)(i))
Please note: Social Security numbers are not collected at this age but are required before entering high school for Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) funding.
Kindergarten Requirements
1. Proof of age – Upon enrollment for the first time in any elementary or secondary school, a student or student’s parent shall provide either a certified copy of the student’s birth certificate or other reliable proof of the student’s identity and age and an affidavit of the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate (HC Policy 09.121).
2. A current Kentucky immunization certification form required by 702 KAR 1:160 shall be on file within two (2) weeks of a student’s enrollment in school. Out of State Immunization Certificates must be that state’s Certificate, not a “records of administration” to count as that child’s certificate. Military families have 30 days to comply as indicated in the Interstate Commission Compact. All vaccines administered should be printed on the Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization Status which can be found on the Kentucky Department of Education Website. CLICK HERE to access a copy of this certificate. A Kentucky Private Provider Certificate may be accepted if it contains all required information as outlined in 902 KAR 2:060 Section Four. Out of State Immunization Certificates must be that state’s Certificate - not a “records of administration” to count as that child’s certificate. Military families have 30 days to comply as indicated in the Interstate Commission Compact.
3. The preventive health care exam (702 KAR 1:160) dated within 1-year prior to initial admission to school and must be on the Preventive Health Care Form.
4. Social Security Number is required before entering high school for KEES funding.
5. KRS 156.160 (1)(i)) states all children entering at 3, 4, 5, or 6 years of age public preschool and Head Start or public school for the first time to have an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist no later than January 1 of the school year.
6. Must be 5 years of age on or before August 1 of the given school year.
7. Effective with the 2010-2011 school year, a dental screening or examination shall be required no later than January 1 of the school year for five (5) and six (6) year-olds enrolling in the school district per KRS 156.160 (j).
First Time Enrollees in Kentucky Schools
1. Proof of age – Upon enrollment for the first time in any elementary or secondary school, a student or student’s parent shall provide either a certified copy of the student’s birth certificate or other reliable proof of the student’s identity and age and an affidavit of the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate (HC Policy 09.121).
2. A current Kentucky immunization certification form required by 702 KAR 1:160 shall be on file within two (2) weeks of a student’s enrollment in school. Out of State Immunization Certificates must be that state’s Certificate, not a “records of administration” to count as that child’s certificate. Military families have 30 days to comply as indicated in the Interstate Commission Compact. All vaccines administered should be printed on the Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization Status which can be found on the Kentucky Department of Education Website. CLICK HERE to access a copy of this certificate. A Kentucky Private Provider Certificate may be accepted if it contains all required information as outlined in 902 KAR 2:060 Section Four. Out of State Immunization Certificates must be that state’s Certificate - not a “records of administration” to count as that child’s certificate. Military families have 30 days to comply as indicated in the Interstate Commission Compact.
3. The preventive health care exam (702 KAR 1:160) dated within I year prior to initial admission to school and must be on the Preventive Health Care Form.
4. Child’s social security number is required before entering high school for Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) funding.
5. KRS 156.160 (1)(i) states all children entering at 3, 4, 5, or 6 years of age public preschool and Head Start or public school for the first time to have an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist no later than January 1 of the school year.
6. Effective with the 2010-2011 school year, a dental screening or examination shall be required no later than January 1 of the school year for five (5) and six (6) year-olds enrolling in the school district per KRS 156.160 (j).
Sixth Grade Enrollment Requirements
1. Must have a second preventive health care exam within one year prior to entering 6th grade (first exam was given upon initial admission to Kentucky schools) or within 30 days of enrollment.
2. A Kentucky Immunization Certificate is required within two (2) weeks of enrollment showing all age appropriate vaccines. Out of State Immunization Certificates must be that state’s Certificate, not a “records of administration” to count as that child’s certificate. This includes tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap), meningococcal vaccine, 2nd does of varicella vaccine or physician proof of past varicella disease.
Military families have 30 days to comply as indicated in the Interstate Commission Compact.
*Per Interstate Commission Compact
Students from a household of an active duty service member who are moving into the District shall be enrolled and appropriately placed as quickly as possible based on information provided in the student’s unofficial records pending validation by the official record that the District shall request from the sending school.
Special power of attorney, relative to the guardianship of a child of a military family and executed under applicable law shall be sufficient for the purposes of enrollment and all other actions requiring parental participation and consent. A transitioning child of a military family who is placed in the care of a non-custodial parent or other person standing in loco parentis and living in a jurisdiction other than that of the custodial parent may continue to attend the school in which s/he was enrolled while residing with the custodial parent.
Immunization Information
CLICK HERE to access the Kentucky Parent or Guardian's Declination on Religious Grounds to Required Immunizations.
CLICK HERE to access the Kentucky Eye Examination Form for School Entry.
CLICK HERE to access the Kentucky Certificate of Immunization Status Form.
CLICK HERE to access the Preventative Health Care Examination Form.
CLICK HERE to access the Kentucky Dental Screening Exam Form for School Entry.