The Okaloosa County School District is encouraging families to register children early for the 2026-2027 school year as the district launches a reimagined approach to kindergarten designed to strengthen early learning across all elementary schools.

• Children turning five on or before Sept. 1, 2026, are eligible for full-day kindergarten, which follows the standard schedule at all elementary schools. Early registration helps the district plan staffing, classroom assignments and resources, according to the district.

“Starting at a new school, or even starting school for the very first time, is an important milestone for both students and their families,” Superintendent Marcus Chambers said. “Registering early helps us ensure that every child walks into a classroom that is fully prepared for them on the first day, with the teachers, support, and resources in place to help them feel welcomed and set up for success.”

The registration push comes alongside the district’s REimagining Kindergarten initiative, which was presented to the school board during a workshop Monday morning by Dr. Belinda Small, assistant superintendent of academic and student services.

Small told board members the initiative is “not changing what works, but strengthening it,” with a focus on meeting every child where they are, expanding hands-on learning and creating consistent, high-quality experiences across all schools rather than in isolated pockets.

• “We are planning for art education, music education, physical education,” Small said. “We are preparing students with friendships. We know how important this is to grounding students into their community.”

The initiative is built around the acronym PLAY: purposeful play, where children learn through intentional, teacher-supported activities; learn, combining strong instruction with hands-on experience; achieve, celebrating every child’s growth regardless of starting point; and you belong, fostering a sense of connection and confidence.

Small outlined what a reimagined kindergarten day would look like, including morning meetings with the teacher, time in learning centers, literacy exploration, math and science through hands-on activities, and experiences in art, music and physical education. Students would also get two recess periods per day, a change from prior schedules that Small said was informed by feedback from teachers and families.

“The cognitive load during kindergarten can be great,” Small said. “They need an extra moment to just offload that cognitive load and get emotionally regulated again for a second time during the day.”

Small highlighted personalized small-group instruction, interactive learning centers and a focus on whole-child development, including oral language development, social stories and emotional regulation support during morning meetings. She also pointed to fine motor skill activities built into exploratory play, such as using tweezers to move objects — exercises that also help children develop the muscles needed to hold a pencil.

Amy Dale, director of elementary curriculum, led the team of experienced primary education teachers who collaborated on the initiative’s framework. Dale has also been personally visiting private providers and voluntary prekindergarten programs throughout the community to build relationships and share information with potential incoming families, Small said.

The district has produced kindergarten brochures that will be mailed to families and distributed through VPK providers. The brochures include QR codes linking to a promotional video and the district’s registration page.

Board Member Tim Bryant praised the marketing effort, noting that kindergarten enrollment rates have been lower in recent years.

• “We understand that parents in Florida have a choice, and we appreciate that choice, but I appreciate the fact that we’re not just sitting behind and not taking initiative to grow our school district and to show people exactly what is going on in our schools,” Bryant said.

Board Member Parker Destin said he had heard excitement about the initiative from a group of retired elementary school teachers who were enthusiastic about what they see as a return to fundamentals.

“There’s an excitement to say, ‘Hey, we’re getting back to the basics,'” Destin said, adding that the approach could appeal to families who may have left the traditional public school system.

Board Member Dr. Lamar White said he was pleased the initiative focuses not only on academics but also on developing social skills in young students.

Board Member Brett Hinely encouraged the district to continue expanding its marketing reach beyond VPK providers to connect with young families who might not yet be aware of what the district offers.

Chambers said additional components of the broader Reimagine Okaloosa initiative will be presented at the next board meeting, including details on daily music and art for students, changes to physical education, the Presidential Fitness Award and a math pilot program progressing from third grade to geometry.

Families can explore kindergarten in Okaloosa County Schools by visiting https://youtu.be/728HaUx5I74 and can register through the district’s student registration website at https://www.okaloosaschools.com/o/ocsd/page/registration. For questions, families should contact their child’s zoned school.