Today, the School District of Philadelphia publicly announced its “Thrive At Five” campaign to promote kindergarten registration for the 2022-2023 school year.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to register their child(ren), who must be five years old on or before September 1, 2022, now through May 31. Registration can be done through an online portal on the District’s website or in-person by appointment at families’ neighborhood schools.

“Kindergarten plays a crucial role in setting up the foundation for our earliest learners to achieve academic success,” said William R. Hite, Ed.D., Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. “When children participate in high quality full-day Kindergarten, they gain significant long-term benefits that help them thrive.”

Registering students for kindergarten by May 31 is important in order to connect families with the information and resources they need to ensure a smooth transition.

“Registering early helps children – and parents – begin the process of getting ready for kindergarten which can be a big transition,” said Diane Castelbuono, Deputy Chief for the District’s Office of Early Childhood Education. “It will also help the District plan ahead and make sure that our schools are fully prepared to welcome your children on the first day of school.”

The District will hold a Kindergarten Open House Day on March 1 and again on May 9. The open house may be virtual or in-person, depending on decisions made by the individual school. Families should check with their neighborhood school for the exact time.

Understanding the importance of kindergarten to the academic success of children, the District is supporting registration with a media campaign featuring television, radio, print and digital ads. More details, including translated information about kindergarten registration in various languages, are available at philasd.org/thriveatfive.