Is your child ready to go to school?

If so, pick up an enrollment form to send him or her to either pre-school or kindergarten in Montgomery County. All the necessary paperwork now is available at www.mcps.org or at all elementary schools.

On-site registration begins March 9 at the schools.

Children who will turn 5 by Sept. 30 can enroll in kindergarten.

Parents or guardians must provide the child's birth certificate and Social Security card at registration. They also must provide proof or residence and a child's immunization certificate and physical exam.

Any questions should be directed to the school in which the child expects to enroll.

Montgomery County has 10 pre-school sites.

Eligible children who will be 4 by Sept. 30 can attend preschool at: Auburn Elementary, Margaret Beeks Elementary, Price's Fork Elementary, Kipps Elementary, Belview Elementary, Christiansburg Primary, Falling Branch Elementary, Elliston-Lafayette Elementary, Shawsville Elementary and Gilbert Linkous Elementary schools.

Interested parents must call the school in which their child plans to enroll because space is limited.

In years past, registration has continued through the fall, but school administrators like to have an idea of potential enrollment early.

League of Women Voters, school board set meeting

The Montgomery County League of Women Voters, the Montgomery County School Board and superintendent, a few PTA members and Blacksburg Councilman Don Langrehr are scheduled to meet for a coffee-and-dessert discussion tonight at Bogen's, 622 N. Main St. in Blacksburg.

The league periodically hosts discussion sessions with elected governments.

Montgomery Co. to boost new dual-credit programs

Montgomery County students could graduate high school with a general associate of arts degree from New River Community College under an agreement in the works.

On Tuesday, the school board heard about a dual-enrollment plan called "College Zone" for juniors and seniors. The idea is to increase the number of dual-enrollment credits -- up to 62 hours -- students can earn.

Potential courses include:

• English 11 and 12

• U.S. history and government

• Pre-calculus

• Weight training

• Music appreciation

• Principles of economics

• Public speaking

Under the plan, students would have to have a 3.0 grade-point average and completed Algebra II to be eligible.

Clothing drive to benefit Belle Heth Elementary

Because outside field trips have been nixed in Radford City Schools, the parent-student association at Belle Heth Elementary School is looking to offer field trips to its students. To raise money for the events, PSA members are planning a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 4 at the school.

Donation boxes for old clothes are at Belle Heth and McHarg elementary school.

Anna L. Mallory covers events and issues affecting Montgomery County schools and beyond. If you have information you'd like featured, e-mail anna.mallory@roanoke.com. You also can visit Chalk Dust, the New River Valley's education news source, at blogs.roanoke.com/chalkdust.