JEBA-AR: Early Entrance into Kindergarten/First Grade**

Code: JEBA-AR

Revised/Reviewed: 4/13/11; 6/26/13; 4/13/16

Orig. Code: JEBA-AR

If a request for early admission to kindergarten or first grade is received by the building principal of the student’s home school, the following guidelines will be used:

1.       A child attaining age five or six after September 1 but prior to November 15, qualifies for consideration of admittance to kindergarten or first grade, respectively. Requests for early entry will be taken from June 1 to July 31 of each school year;

2.       The Request for Early Entrance forms must be filled out by a parent(s). The completion of these forms will activate an early entry referral. Members of the early entry committee are: kindergarten and/or first-grade teachers, the school psychologist (or other licensed psychologist), building principal and any other identified professional, as appropriate;

           The parent(s) will be informed that the child will be assessed in the following areas:

            a.           Cognitive development;

            b.           Social development, including emotional and behavioral development; and

            c.           Physical development.

            Parent(s) will be informed that test scores should be in the 95th percentile for their age in order to be considered for early admission into kindergarten/first grade. The child’s advanced development in Cognitive, Social, including emotional and behavioral development and physical functioning are taken into consideration in the evaluation. Opportunities in social settings are an important part of the consideration for early entry. This can be done in a variety of ways including preschool, daycare, Sunday school, play-dates with peers, etc.;

3.       All early entry testing and recommendations must be received by the superintendent or designee on or before August 15;

4.       The early entry committee will review the test information and parent interview forms by the second week of August;

5.       The early entry committee will make recommendations for early school admission to the superintendent and parent(s) will be notified by the second week in August. In addition, the Assessment Results Report, a letter with the decision information, and directions for appeal will be mailed to the parent(s) within ten (10) school days of the decision;

6.       A written appeal can be made by the parent(s) to the superintendent who may affirm, reverse or modify the early entry committee’s decision. A subsequent hearing may be held with the board if the respective decision does not meet with the approval of the parent(s).