The first day of school is less than a month away, which means Salina families are entering the annual season of enrollment forms, supply shopping and discovering that children apparently require an industrial quantity of glue sticks.

Online enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is now open for new and returning Salina USD 305 families. Enrollment will remain available through Monday, July 27. Families can complete the process through the district’s Skyward system.

Families who need help enrolling or prefer to complete the process in person can attend districtwide walk-in enrollment from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Salina South High School, 730 E. Magnolia Road. The walk-in event is open to students from across the district, not only those attending South High.

When does school begin?

USD 305 will use a staggered opening schedule during the first week of classes.

Students in grades 1 through 5, sixth grade and ninth grade will begin Wednesday, August 12. Students in grades 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 will not attend that day. Preschool and kindergarten conferences will be held by appointment.

Students in grades 1 through 12 will attend Thursday, August 13, while preschool and kindergarten conferences continue.

Kindergarten students will join grades 1 through 12 on Friday, August 14.

All students from prekindergarten through grade 12 will attend beginning Monday, August 17.

Elementary schools will operate from 8:25 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. Middle and high schools will operate from 7:45 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.

School-supply lists are available

USD 305 has released its elementary and middle school supply lists for the upcoming year.

Elementary supply needs vary by grade, but common items include backpacks, No. 2 pencils, crayons, black dry-erase markers, glue sticks, tissues, folders, notebooks, scissors and pencil boxes or bags. Students in first through fifth grades may also need earbuds or headphones.

Kindergarten students are asked to bring 12 No. 2 pencils, two boxes of crayons, four black dry-erase markers, six glue sticks, washable markers, a pencil box, tissues, erasers and blunt-tip scissors.

First- and second-grade students will each need 24 No. 2 pencils. Older elementary students will also need colored pencils, loose-leaf paper, highlighters and multiple folders and notebooks.

Middle school students in grades 6 through 8 will need a backpack with a padded Chromebook section, a non-graphing scientific calculator, colored pencils, No. 2 pencils, pens, earbuds or headphones, a large eraser, tissues, highlighters, loose-leaf paper and eight two-pocket folders with three brads. Teachers may request additional supplies for individual subjects.

Families may want to check the official list before shopping rather than relying on a generic store display. A package labeled “middle school essentials” has no legal obligation to contain anything a middle school student actually needs. Apparently commerce remains adventurous.

High school supply needs may vary by class, so families should check with their school or teachers before purchasing specialized items.

Curriculum fees

USD 305 lists curriculum fees of $30 for prekindergarten students attending Salina elementary locations, $60 for kindergarten through eighth grade and $100 for grades 9 through 12.

Reduced fees are available for students who qualify for reduced-price meals. Those fees are $15 for prekindergarten, $30 for kindergarten through eighth grade and $50 for high school students.

Curriculum fees are waived for students who qualify for free meals.

Meal applications

The district’s free and reduced-price meal application is available through Skyward.

New and returning families can complete the application while enrolling or log into Skyward and select the Food Service Applications section. Eligibility can also affect curriculum fees, making the application important even for families whose children do not regularly eat school meals.

Immunization records

Kansas law requires students enrolling in school to provide immunization verification signed by a physician or local health department.

Families should review their children’s records before the final rush in August, when every parent in Kansas suddenly remembers that medical offices also have schedules.

Kindergarten enrollment

Children must be 5 years old on or before August 31 of the current school year to enter kindergarten.

Families attending walk-in enrollment for a new kindergarten student should bring the child’s birth certificate or other legal proof of age, current immunization records, a completed physical form and proof of residency.

Parents who already have children enrolled in USD 305 will need to add the incoming kindergarten student to their family’s online enrollment. Families that did not receive an enrollment letter for their kindergartner should attend walk-in enrollment.

Transportation

Students who live at least 2.5 miles from their assigned school are eligible for transportation under state law. Additional transportation may be available in certain qualifying areas.

Parents with questions should contact their child’s school to confirm eligibility and transportation arrangements.

Dates to remember

July 21: Districtwide walk-in enrollment from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at South High School.

July 27: Final day of online enrollment.

August 12: First day for grades 1 through 5, sixth grade and ninth grade.

August 13: Grades 1 through 12 attend.

August 14: Kindergarten through grade 12 attend.

August 17: All students from prekindergarten through grade 12 attend.

Families can find enrollment access, printable calendars and complete supply lists through the Salina USD 305 website. The district office can be reached at 785-309-4700.