Getting Ready

Duneland Early Learning HUB

The Duneland School Corporation Early Learning HUB is proud to be the first birth to school initiative in Porter County. The HUB is a place for caregivers and their children to learn, play and grow together. The HUB aims to help Duneland's early learners and their caregivers, to understand the needs of this population and to build connections between families, educators and community partners. Led by the HUB team, families will be welcomed into a setting that is filled with play, activities, a variety of resources, child and family engagement and learning opportunities for caregivers. The HUB is built upon the concepts that caregivers are the child's first teacher, learning begins at birth and that children learn through play.

Families must reside within the Duneland School Corporation boundaries and children must be 0 to 5 years old. Families must enroll in the HUB to participate; once enrolled, families can sign up for HUB classes weekly. Click here to learn more about the Duneland Early Learning HUB. See you at the HUB!

Early Entrance Information

Indiana Code 20-33-2-7 and Duneland School Corporation’s Policy 5112 continue to require a student entering kindergarten to be five (5) years of age on or before August 1, 2025 in order to qualify for entrance for the 2025-2026 school year. Duneland’s policy also permits a parent or guardian to request a waiver of this date if the child’s birthday is between August 2, 2025 and September 1, 2026.

How to Apply for a Waiver

Early Entrance Waiver Assessments

Brigance Early Childhood Screen III: evaluates the key predictors of school success by addressing physical, language and cognitive development, academic and social-emotional skills, and self-help.
Minnesota Executive Functioning System: screens a child’s neuro-cognitive skills needed for successful learning and performance in school, work and life. This iIncludes cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control.
Draw a Picture: Drawing a picture assists with conversation and the “interview.”

Interview

Parent-School: school personnel will have an interview session with the parent or guardian to become acquainted and learn about the child.
Educator-Child: the educator will interview the child and in doing so, will informally evaluate the child’s level of maturity, social skills, fine motor skills, auditory and visual perception, and language skills.

Determination & Notification

After the necessary data has been obtained, a decision will be made by the Director of Teaching & Learning or designee, with consultation from the principal and certified test administrator.

If approved, the family will be informed on how to proceed with enrolling their child in kindergarten for the fall.
If denied, the family will be informed why their child was deemed ineligible and be informed of enrollment procedures when the student reaches the required age.

Final Appeal

Ready, Set, Kindergarten

Parents as Teachers of Porter County (PAT), in collaboration with the Duneland School Corporation, will be offering Ready, Set, Kindergarten™ (RSK) beginning in September 2025. This program is for children ages 4-5 who will enter Kindergarten in August 2025 (age 4 by August 1, 2025).

RSK is designed to teach children the skills needed to do well in the Kindergarten classroom. PAT educators work weekly with children on academic, motor, independent and social skills to ensure they are ready to enter school and to succeed.

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Duneland Early Learning HUB

Early Entrance Information

How to Apply for a Waiver

Early Entrance Waiver Assessments

Early Entrance Waiver Assessments

Interview

Determination & Notification

Final Appeal

Ready, Set, Kindergarten