San Bernardino City Unified Offers Full-Day Kindergarten and Award-Winning Programs
SAN BERNARDINO — Online enrollment for kindergarten and transitional kindergarten (TK) in San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is underway. Children who will be five years old by September 1, 2026, are eligible to pre-enroll in kindergarten for the 2026–2027 school year. Transitional kindergarten is available for students who will turn five years old from September 2, 2026, to September 1, 2027.
“For families who are thinking that it’s too early to enroll their little ones for kindergarten or TK, it’s important to understand that early enrollment has benefits,” said Leonard Buckner, Director of Enrollment and Placement Services. “SBCUSD offers a number of programs and services designed to support not just students, but also their families. Space may be limited in some of our most popular programs, so pre-enrollment can help make sure you and your child have access to the school sites, programs and services most important to you.”
Full-day kindergarten is offered at most SBCUSD elementary schools. Kindergarten students start the school year in August with a half-day morning schedule before transitioning to a full day in September. This gives students an adjustment period before starting full-day classes, while also limiting the length of time families might need to arrange for childcare during the day.
To support families with both childcare and academic enrichment, SBCUSD offers Expanded Learning (EXL) for students starting in TK. Sunrise, the before-school program, is available at elementary schools from 7:15 a.m. until breakfast begins or until lunch for afternoon TK students. SBCUSD’s award-winning after-school program, CAPS (Creative After-school Programs for Success), provides supper, academic support, enrichment activities and recreational activities from the dismissal bell until 6 p.m. every school day for students from TK to high school. Students must be enrolled in an SBCUSD school before enrolling in EXL, and EXL enrollment begins before the start of the new school year. Families may choose to enroll their child in just Sunrise, just CAPS or both.
“We know our SBCUSD community is filled with hard-working families who are dedicated to their children but often find it difficult to juggle work and childcare responsibilities,” said EXL Director Ann Pearson. “EXL can help ease that burden while also supporting students’ academic growth and success, but early enrollment is important.”
SBCUSD’s award-winning SANKOFA signature program is available exclusively at Hunt Elementary School starting in kindergarten. SANKOFA is a brain-based, rigorous program rooted in culturally responsive teaching that values the experiences and perspectives of African-American students while welcoming and supporting strong outcomes for all learners. SANKOFA students regularly meet and exceed all learning targets.
SBCUSD’s award-winning Dual Immersion Program is available starting in kindergarten at 24 schools and starting in TK at select campuses. Dual Immersion students receive standards-based, high-quality instruction in both English and Spanish during the school day. The program is open to native Spanish speakers and native English speakers, as well as students who are new to both languages and are interested in becoming fluent in English and Spanish. For more information about the Dual Immersion Program, contact the Language Assessment Center at (909) 891-1037.
Parents and guardians will need several documents on hand in order to pre-enroll their child for school either online at https://sbcusd.asp.aeries.net/air/ or in person:
- Child’s birth verification (i.e. birth certificate, hospital certificate, baptismal certificate or passport)
- Child’s immunization record
- Parent/guardian photo identification
- Address verification (i.e. utility bill, lease/rental agreement or affidavit from landlord)
Children who have some, but not all, of their required vaccinations may still be eligible to pre-enroll so long as required immunizations are completed before the first day of school.
Families may check https://locator.pea.powerschool.com/?StudyID=235043 to determine their child’s home school. Families may also watch an Enrollment/Pre-Enrollment Instructional Video for directions on how to pre-enroll online. For more information about determining your child’s home school or how to pre-enroll, contact Enrollment and Placement Services at (909) 889-7576.
