Volume 40 No.1 | Thursday March 26, 2026

WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

Pre-Enroll Your Child Now for the 2026-2027 School Year

San Bernardino City Unified Offers Full-Day Kindergarten and Award-Winning Programs

• ANKO
• JEFFERSON HU
• TANKOFA

EHERSIN HUN

The award-winning SANKOFA signature program at Hunt Elementary School is one of many programs available exclusively to San Ber- nardino City Unified School District students starting in kindergarten. Pre-enrollment is underway for students who will be in kindergarten and transitional kindergarten during the 2026–2027 school year. (Photo by Steven Moore and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)

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 Buck- ner, Director of Enrollment and Placement Services. "SBCUSD offers a number of pro- grams 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, pro- grams and services most important to you." Full-day kindergarten is offered at most SB- CUSD elementary schools. Kindergarten stu-

SAN BERNARDINO dents 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 Ex- panded 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 after- noon TK students. SBCUSD's award-winning after-school program, CAPS (Creative After- school Programs for Success), provides sup- per, 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 en- rolled 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 dedicat- ed 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 sig- nature program is available exclusively at Hunt Elementary School starting in kindergar- ten. SANKOFA is a brain-based, rigorous pro- gram rooted in culturally responsive teaching that values the experiences and perspectives of African-American students while welcoming and supporting strong outcomes for all learn- ers. 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 cam- puses. Dual Immersion students receive stan- See "Pre-Enroll Your Child..." page 7