Beginning February 12, 2024,* at 8:00 a.m., Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) will accept applications online for the annual comprehensive kindergarten registration program for the 2024-25 school year. This program is for all children entering kindergarten for the first time in September 2024. Children who will be five (5) years old by September 1, 2024, are required to register for kindergarten. Those children who are not five (5) years old by September 1, 2025, are not eligible for kindergarten registration through this program.

The kindergarten registration program will be held at all elementary schools during April. The school’s nurse will meet with parents/guardians to review your child’s confidential health status, immunizations, lead screenings, and entry-to-school physical requirements. They will also provide information on the use of the health room, medication at school, and any other questions you may have. Parents must register any child who will be five (5) years old by September 1, 2024. The law allows exemptions to the school attendance requirements as follows:

• Permits compliance through the home school instruction regulation.

• Grants a one-year immaturity waiver if the parent or guardian makes a written request to the local school system.

• Allows a 5-year-old to be enrolled in one of three alternative program settings: a full-time licensed child care center, a full-time registered family day care home, or part-time in a Head Start 5-year-old program.

Parents who choose to use one of the exemptions from the required 5-year-old attendance must request the appropriate exemption form from the Elementary Education Department at 301-334-8927.To enroll, Maryland State regulations require parents to provide:

• Evidence of birth (the child’s birth certificate)

• Social Security Card 

• An official immunization record, including documentation of lead testing

• Documented proof of current residency

  • Documents accepted by the State of Maryland as proof of residency include:

    • Deed/Mortgage Agreement

    • Current property tax bill

    • Current rental lease or rental agreement

    • Current utility bill with applicant’s name and address (cell phone bills are not considered a valid utility bill)

In addition, parents must complete an Affidavit of Disclosure to verify the child's residency.

Parents of children who meet the above qualifications are asked to fill out an application online here in English or here in Spanish. If you require assistance completing the online application, please contact the elementary school in your home district and ask for the Registration Liaison.

Before April 15, 2024, all parents registering children for school will receive a registration appointment. Registration for kindergarten is to occur at the school for the assigned district where the child resides. If a parent has questions regarding the district in which they reside, they should contact the Transportation Department at 301-334-8907. Per Policy and Procedure JCB, all out-of-area requests should be submitted by June 15^th, and the requests will be acted upon by July 1^st. Both initial and renewal requests are to be submitted annually.

STUDENTS WILL NOT BE REGISTERED OR ENROLLED WITHOUT THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING PROOF OF RESIDENCY.

*In case of a snow day on February 12, 2024, applications will be accepted the next day schools are in session. In the event of a 2-hour delay, applications will be accepted beginning at 10:00 a.m.