The Kinder Bridge Application Process for the 2026-27 school year will open April 15th and close August 1st. Applications will be posted on the districct website or available at any elementary school office.  All applicants must be screened and will be notified of a date and time for screening during the week of August 10th and will be notified by August 18th if approved for the Kinder Bridge Program .

          

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East Valley School District Kinder BRIDGE: 

 A Transitional Kindergarten Program for in district students

Classes Start August 25, 2026

The East Valley School District’s early learning goal for our incoming kindergarten students is to be ready for the rigorous academic standards and social skills necessary for success in our PreK-12 schools. 

 

What is Kinder BRIDGE? 

The Kinder BRIDGE program is a free, full day transitional kindergarten opportunity for in district children who will have turned 4 by August 31st, who do not have access to high-quality early learning experiences and have been deemed by the district through the application and screening process in need of additional preparation to be successful in Kindergarten the next year. The class will focus on basic kindergarten readiness standards and social/ emotional skills to be “kindergarten ready” with priority for placement into Kinder Bridge being based on the student’s qualifying needs per the application and screening process.

Priority is given to children most in need of additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten, as demonstrated through the screening process and to children not currently enrolled or planning to participate in another local early learning program. 

Who is eligible for entry to Kinder BRIDGE?

The Kinder BRIDGE program is available through the application process for qualifying in district children who are scheduled to enter EV kindergarten in the fall of 2027. 

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for entry to KB:

* Reside in the East Valley School District Boundary

* Turn 4 yrs. old on or before August 31, 2026

* Plan to enter EV Kindergarten August 2027

* Be fully toilet trained

*****Currently not enrolled or planning to participate in another local early learning program

* A new 2026-27 OSPI requirement - Complete the required Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit (CNEEB) attached application (a confidential, unified form in Washington State that combines free/reduced-price meal applications and family income survey)

 

If a child is turning 5 years old by August 31st, the child qualifies for Kindergarten services and should register for the August 2026-27 kindergarten program.

 

*****OSPI guidelines: Transitional Kindergarten programs work in collaboration with and do not adversely impact enrollment in community-based preschool programs, including Head Start, ECEAP (the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program), tribally-led early learning programs and those operating in licensed child care centers and licensed family homes.

 

After completing the multi page application, eligible students will be scheduled to participate in the screening process where we will get to know your child’s developmental strengths and needs through drawing, counting, reading, recognizing numbers, letters, colors, playing and conversation. Entry into program is not guaranteed, all applicants are rank ordered for priority placement into the Kinder Bridge program per the screening process indicating the need for intervention services to be kinder ready for Fall 2027.

 

Parents will be notified after all of the student data has been gathered if your child has been identified for entry into the 2026 Kinder BRIDGE program.

 

How do I apply for the Kinder BRIDGE program? 

The 3 page application is available 4/15/2026 to download or you may ask for one at your local elementary school office

Please return the application by 8/1/2026 to:

EVSD Admin Office, your home school office, or email to [email protected]

 

If you are interested in applying for the EV Kinder BRIDGE Program, the application will be available at the right of the page to download or paper applications are available at our district office or your local elementary school office.

 

Thank you for your support in considering this early learning opportunity for your child

If you have further questions, please contact:

Jeri Young

Director of Special Programs

408 E. Seattle Ave

Moxee, WA

509-573-7332

y[email protected]

 

 

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction -Olympia, Wa.

Pillars of Transitional Kindergarten

Transitional Kindergarten is a kindergarten program for children not yet age five who do not have access to high-quality early learning experiences prior to kindergarten and have been deemed by a school district, through a screening process and/or other instrument(s), to be in need of additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten the following year.

The following “pillars” describe required elements of Transitional Kindergarten.

Pillar I: Transitional Kindergarten programs meet the requirements of full-day
kindergarten established in RCW 28A.150.315, including administration of the WaKIDS whole-child assessment, within the first ten weeks.

Pillar II: Classrooms are staffed by certificated teachers and para educators who provide a curriculum that offers a rich, varied set of experiences in learning environments that are developmentally appropriate and address the whole child. It is recommended that teachers have Early Childhood and/or Early Childhood Special Education Endorsements.

Pillar III: Transitional Kindergarten programs are inclusive, socioeconomically diverse and responsive to the needs of children who qualify for participation.

Pillar IV: Programs must be fully integrated into school buildings, with access to transportation, specialists, recess, lunch in the school cafeteria and all aspects of the school day available to regular kindergarten students. Attention much be given to the developmental capabilities and needs specific to young children in these settings.

Pillar V: Transitional Kindergarten programs work in collaboration with and do not adversely impact enrollment in community-based preschool programs, including Head Start, ECEAP (the Early Childhood Education Assistance Program), tribally-led early learning programs and those operating in licensed child care centers and licensed family homes. Districts participate in coordinated outreach, referral and placement to assure best fit and appropriateness of services based on each child and family’s need.