5112A - ADMISSION TO KINDERGARTEN

Southern Local School District

Administrative Guidelines

5112A - ADMISSION TO KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten Registration

The following guidelines shall be followed for the registration of all kindergarten students.

	A.	Children must be five (5) years old on or before August 1^st.
	B.	Children must be registered by their parent(s) or guardian(s). Guardians must present proper certification of legal guardianship and, when applicable, a parent is to provide a copy of any custody arrangements.
		If a birth certificate is not provided, the parent must complete Form 5111 F3 and submit with the specified documentary evidence. If custody has been established by the courts, a copy of the court order must be provided.
	C.	Children transferring from another public or private kindergarten who do not meet the age requirements may be admitted.
	D.	All registrants shall receive a kindergarten screening as determined by the principal.
	E.	A child who exhibits exceptional readiness on the screening will be further evaluated to determine if s/he is capable of first grade placement. If staff members and the parents concur, the child will be give a trial placement in first grade.
	F.	Final class placement will be made by each respective building principal on the basis of the evaluation mentioned above, a review of the student's records when available, and consultation with the appropriate staff members.
	G.	Kindergarten children shall be monitored early in the year to allow for possible changes in kindergarten placement. When a placement change is contemplated, additional standardized tests will be administered by the District's school psychologist and other certificated/licensed personnel. The principal, the child's classroom teacher, and the District psychologist will review the data and render a placement judgment. Following this review, the findings will be shared with the parents.
	H.	Individual classroom assignments will be made by the building principal.

Early Entrance Criteria

	A.	Rationale
		The District shall provide for early admission to kindergarten and first grade for qualified students.
	B.	Application
		Referrals are made by school principals or directly by parent request at the time of spring registration.
		The evaluation shall be made prior to the enrollment date.
		At that time, the parents are advised as to the nature of the exception program and immediately following the evaluation they are counseled regarding their child's particular strengths and weaknesses and his/her possible chance for entrance.
	C.	Selection Procedures
		Multiple criteria are employed. These include:

		1.	Superior ratings (97% percentile and above) on individual intellectual measures and no significant deviation in specific cognitive or perceptual areas.
		2.	Social maturity at least equal to the child's advanced mental status and fifth year birth date between August 2nd and January 1st for Kindergarten and sixth year birth date between August 2nd and January 1st for first grade.
		3.	Sound and well developed personality as judged by the examiner and from case history material obtained during the parent interview.
		4.	Physical characteristics not likely to limit the child. Particular attention is directed to eye-hand coordination and dexterity.

	The evaluation shall be made by the principal and appropriate staff no later than sixty (60) days after the initial referral.

	Upon completion of the evaluation and the decision by the principal, a meeting is to be conducted with the parents to inform them of the decision and, if appropriate, to discuss the results of the evaluation and the nature of the kindergarten or first grade program.

Revised 7/06