Now that we've made it to spring break, maybe we've finally moved past the winter that didn't know when to quit.

There are signs of spring all around our schools, and one of the surest signs is the approach of kindergarten registration for the next school year. It's an exciting day in our schools as parents and students come to visit their new school, many for the first time.

Kindergarten registration will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 3 at all Fayetteville elementary schools. Online registration will be available starting March 27. Parents can begin the registration process online at our website, district.fayar.net. Online registration will be accessible through any electronic device that has Internet access. Access will also available at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Arkansas law requires that a child must be 5 years old by Aug. 1, 2014, to enroll in kindergarten for the 2014-15 school year.

To complete kindergarten registration, parents should bring the following items to school on April 3:

• Current proof of residence (utility bill or rental agreement)

• State birth certificate

• Immunization record

• Social Security card

• A physical exam is required within 90 days of enrollment.

For many years the kindergarten students were the youngest students in our elementary schools. However, five of our nine elementary schools now have pre-K programs through the Arkansas Better Chance program, which provides money to schools that meet certain criteria based on socio-economic factors.

Programs such as Head Start and private pre-K programs have long demonstrated the value of having students fully prepared to attend kindergarten, and we look forward to a time when all of our beginning kindergarten students have had the benefit of a pre-K program.

The first five years of a child's life are so critical to their development, and we believe every child deserves that opportunity.

Funding for pre-K programs in all Arkansas public schools has been discussed in the General Assembly in recent sessions, and the consensus seems to be that money for these programs will be made available as soon as the revenue is available.

Exactly when that will be is hard to predict, but it's a safe bet Arkansas public schools will have pre-K programs within the not too distant future.

With spring finally coming to Fayetteville, we hope you are enjoying a happy, restful, and safe spring break.

We look forward to finishing the year with strong enthusiasm, many reasons to celebrate and welcoming our newest students and their parents.

Commentary on 03/27/2014