Student Registration
Dear Families,
On behalf of our students, staff, and administrators, welcome to Ridgefield Public Schools! We are so glad that you are here and we can’t wait to get to know you! For those of you who are returning to Ridgefield Public Schools — Welcome Back!
RPS is guided by what we consider our north star, that is our mission and our Vision of the Graduate. Everything that we do seeks to bring our mission to life and to provide an educational experience that focuses on the whole child and allows all of our students to achieve the attributes of the vision of the graduate.
Our Mission
Ridgefield Public Schools provide engaging, relevant, and personalized learning experiences so all students can pursue their interests and prepare for life, learning, and work as global citizens.
The Vision of the Graduate
We strive to produce graduates who are:
- Collaborative Graduates who are collaborative contribute cooperatively and responsibly to a team when they are looking for solutions to rigorous and complex problems.
- Innovative Graduates who are innovative find creative solutions to authentic problems. They think flexibly and critically while gathering information to synthesize and apply what they have learned.
- Mindful Graduates who are mindful embrace empathy and advocate respect for themselves and others. Through self reflection and awareness, they understand diverse cultures and perspectives. They model the conviction that ethics, leadership, and service to others are critical elements of responsible citizenship.
- Communicative Graduates who are communicative strategically navigate, construct, and articulate specific messages. They utilize their communication skills in an effective, clear, and precise manner across multiple forms of media literacy.
- Knowledgeable Graduates who are knowledgeable are independent learners who draw upon a wide range of skills for different purposes. They seek, gather, and critique information from a variety of sources.
- Resilient Graduates who are resilient are adaptable and persistent in their journey toward growth on rigorous and complex problems. They embrace failure and are intellectual risk-takers. They are self-motivated, thoughtful, and independent decision-makers who value lifelong learning.
As you begin the process of registering, we encourage you to use our district website as a way to preview the district, our programs, curriculum, and opportunities for students. You can learn about our curriculum on our department page.
Required Registration Documents
Student ID – New students only, a copy of the student’s birth certificate or unexpired passport. The certification seal must be clearly visible.
Parent/Guardian ID – New students only, valid documents are: driver’s license, passport, or state ID card.
Proof of Residency – Valid documents for purchased property are: Ridgefield Property Tax bill, Mortgage Statement, or Warranty Deed. Valid documents for rental property are: Current Rental/Lease Agreement (signed by the tenant and landlord, including current landlord phone number and leasing period).
Two Utility Bills – Valid documents are: cable, internet, water, electric, gas, oil, propane, garbage, and landline phone. (If recently moved to Ridgefield, these may be submitted at a later date.)
CT Health Assessment Record Form – This form (including Part 3) must be completed by a medical professional based on a physical exam done within 12 months of the student’s anticipated start date. Download the appropriate form for your student’s grade level using the links on the left.
Kindergarten Medical History – Students entering kindergarten will need to submit an additional medical history form. This form must be completed prior to registration. Download by selecting the link on the left, complete the form, and then upload it when completing the Registration: Enrollment Info & Academic History Form (F).
Written Consent for Release of Records – This form is required for all students entering grades 1–12 who have attended school in a different district or state. Download the form by selecting the link on the left, fill it out, and then upload it with the registration.
How to Enroll Students in Ridgefield Public Schools
Registration in Ridgefield Public Schools is now online! With the click of a few buttons you can submit your child’s registration information at a time and place that is convenient for you. If you do not have a computer or have questions about the process, please email our registrar Brigid Clancy.
Step 1: Review the list of required documents above. Download forms that must be filled out and save a copy of each form on your computer or device. *You will not be able to complete your registration until all required documents are completed and uploaded during the registration process.
Need help scanning your documents? This app will help you scan your documents, in high resolution, and save them as PDFs on your device.
Step 2: Submit your online registration request by selecting the appropriate button below. If you have never been enrolled in RPS, please select the New Students button below. If you have previously attended or enrolled in RPS, please select the Returning Students button.
Step 3: Once your request is received and approved, you will receive an email within 24 to 48 business hours from PowerSchool with instructions on how to complete your child’s registration. Please check your spam folder and make sure to add PowerSchool to your contacts to ensure the receipt of all communications.
When all of the paperwork is submitted, the placement process typically takes approximately 24 to 48 hours. Once the steps are complete, your child will be able to begin at his or her new school.
Please note – All registrations for the upcoming school year must be completed and submitted to the District Registrar by August 15. If not, there is a chance that your child may not be able to start on the first day of school.
Early Entrance to Kindergarten Waiver
Connecticut General Statute, July 1, 2024, requires children who turn five years old on or before September 1 of the school year to enroll in kindergarten. According to this statute, a child who is not five years old on or before September 1 of the school year may be admitted:
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Upon written request by the child’s parent or guardian to the school principal by April 1 of the current school year, and
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After the principal and an appropriate certified staff member conduct an assessment of the child to ensure that admitting the child to kindergarten is developmentally appropriate.
Please refer to the Ridgefield Public School Board of Education policy and regulation on Admission to Public Schools At or Before Age Five.
Written Request for a Waiver
The Ridgefield Public Schools has and will continue to support all students according to their academic, emotional, and social needs, with the understanding that students are unique. This belief is reflected in our Early Entrance to Kindergarten Waiver Process.
To request a waiver for early admittance to Kindergarten, a child’s parent or guardian will need to contact the building principal of the child’s neighborhood school by April 1 of the current school year.
While we are offering a waiver process for early admittance for the upcoming school year, families must understand that this is not a path to retention or an additional year of preschool. All kindergartens in Ridgefield Public Schools follow the same curriculum based on state standards. All applicable policies remain in effect. The program offered to children who turn five after September 1 is Kindergarten, and students are expected to progress through the year and to first grade.
Assessment Process
The Ridgefield Public Schools assessment process follows a holistic approach of determining a child’s developmental levels. The assessment comprises three domains, which include social-emotional, physical development/health, and academic. During the Early Entrance to Kindergarten Readiness Visit, your child will meet with a small team, including the principal, the Preschool Supervisor, and teachers. Together, they will look for skills that show your child is developmentally ready for kindergarten based on the Connecticut Early Learning Developmental Standards (CTELDS). Because this is a holistic evaluation process, observational data will be collected and referred to when determining if a student meets the criteria for early entrance to Kindergarten.
The purpose of the assessment process is to determine if starting early would be developmentally appropriate for a child. Participating in the assessment process does not guarantee admission to Kindergarten.
A written determination of whether a child will be able to attend the kindergarten program will be communicated to the parent/guardian within one week after the assessment is administered.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the new regulation?
In accordance with Section I of PA 23-208, which amends Section 10-15c of the Connecticut General Statutes effective July 1, 2024, public schools shall:
…be open to all children five years of age and over who reach age five on or before the first day of September of any school year, and each such child shall have, and shall be so advised by the appropriate school authorities, an equal opportunity to participate in the activities, programs and courses of study offered in such public schools, at such time as the child becomes eligible to participate in such activities, programs, and courses of study, without discrimination on account of race, as defined in section 46a-51, color, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability; provided a child who has not reached the age of five on or before the first day of September of the school year may be admitted (1) upon a written request by the parent or guardian of such child to the principal of the school in which such child would be enrolled, and (2) following an assessment of such child, conducted by such principal and an appropriate certified staff member of the sc
In PA 23-208, 1(a), the legislature established September 1 as the new cutoff birthdate for children seeking admission to kindergarten beginning in the 2024–2025 school year, and established an assessment process that constitutes the only exception to the September 1 cutoff date.
2. Why did the date change?
The kindergarten cutoff date was changed based on extensive research showing that children who start at age five are more developmentally and academically ready for school. This increased readiness better prepares them to succeed in the classroom. Connecticut was one of the last states to implement this policy, moving its cutoff from January to September.
3. What will my child do during the Early Entrance to Kindergarten Readiness Visit?
The visit is an experience designed to understand your child’s development in a holistic way. Your child will meet with a small team that includes the principal, Preschool Supervisor, and teachers. The team will observe your child and engage them in some developmentally appropriate activities, including a screening for early literacy and numeracy skills.
4. What are the benefits of waiting another year if my child's birthday is after the new cutoff?
The new state law is based on extensive research showing that children who start kindergarten at age five are more developmentally and academically ready for school. An additional year of preschool can be a gift of time, allowing a child to further develop the crucial social, emotional, and problem-solving skills that lead to greater confidence and success in the classroom.
5. If a waiver request is submitted, is early admission guaranteed?
No, the purpose of the assessment process is to determine if starting early would be developmentally appropriate for your child. Admission is not guaranteed. It’s important to understand that this waiver is an exception and not intended to be a path to retention or an extra year of preschool. The team’s final determination is based on a holistic review of your child’s readiness across social-emotional, physical, and academic domains.
6. What are helpful resources to decide if I should request a waiver for early entrance to Kindergarten?
When considering requesting early admission, parents are encouraged to review Table 1, along with the accompanying resources, to consider key developmental milestones that may guide their decision.
Additional Resources: The Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS) were developed to help families, communities, and schools work together to support children’s early learning and growth. They describe what young children ages 0 to 5 generally know and can do. You might refer to these standards and the 4 Year Online Milestone Checklist to gain an understanding of age-appropriate milestones.
Table 1 – Kindergarten Readiness Milestones
Adapted from the publication: Transitioning to Kindergarten. CT Office of Early Childhood
| Domain | Indicators |
|---|---|
| Social/Emotional Learning |
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| Cognition |
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| Language |
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| Literacy |
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| Numeracy |
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| Gross Motor |
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| Fine Motor |
|
7. How can I learn about the Ridgefield Public Schools Kindergarten Curriculum?
To learn about the kindergarten curriculum in Ridgefield Public Schools and its learning outcomes, visit the RPS Elementary Curriculum page. This information may help make an informed decision when considering an early admission waiver.
More Information & Forms
Please review the information on the right and download the necessary forms using the links below that you will need to submit your online registration.
Immunization Requirements & Health Forms
- Immunization Requirements for CT Schools
- Authorization for the Administration of Acetaminophen and or Ibuprofen
- Authorization for the Administration of Specialized Procedures
- Husky Insurance Plan – Spanish
- Husky Insurance Plan
- New State Diabetes Health Care Form
- Severe Allergies Health Care Form
- Student Asthma Health Care Form
- Student Seizure Health Care Form
Registration Contact
If you have any questions regarding our online registration process, please contact our registrar via email or call: 475-215-1416.
