AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR INITIAL ENTRY
A.
Policy Code: 4100 -AP
DISCRETIONARY ENROLLMENT
A child who reached age 4 on or before April 16 may enter kindergarten if the child is
presented for enrollment during the first 30 calendar days of the school year and if the
principal of the school finds that the child is gifted and has the maturity to justify
admission to school.
The child’s parents or guardians are responsible for submitting all documentation that
may be required to demonstrate the child’s extraordinary level of academic ability and
maturity. All required testing must occur after April 16. All costs incurred in compiling
the documentation will be the responsibility of the parents or guardians.
1.
To be eligible for early admission to kindergarten, a child must demonstrate
extraordinary ability in each of the following areas:
a.
Aptitude. The child must be precocious in academic development and
score at the 98th percentile on a standard individual test of intelligence
such as the Stanford-Binet, The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of
Intelligence, the Woodcock-Johnson Cognitive Ability Test, or other
comparable test administered by a licensed psychologist.
b.
Achievement. The child must be functioning at least two years beyond his
or her peers and score at the 98th percentile on a standard test of
achievement such as the Woodcock-Johnson Achievement Test, the
Kaufman Survey of Early Academic and Language Skills, the
Metropolitan Readiness Test, the Stanford Early School Achievement
Test, or other comparable tests administered by a licensed psychologist.
c.
Performance. The child must be able to perform tasks well above his or
her peers. Parents will submit samples of student work showing the
child’s ability in independent reading, problem-solving skills, advanced
vocabulary, and writing fluency.
d.
Student Behavior/Maturity.
The child must be socially and
developmentally mature enough to be in a structured school setting. The
child must be capable of following verbal instructions and functioning
independently within a group setting. Parents will submit at least two
letters of specific documentation of physical and social maturity from
preschool teachers, child care workers, pediatricians, or others having
direct knowledge of the child; documentation checklists such as the
California Preschool Competency Scale or the Social Skills Rating System
will be used.
STOKES COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY MANUAL
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Policy Code: 4100
e.
Motivation. The child should be eager to learn and excited about a new
school experience. The child should display a thirst for knowledge and
seek new and challenging learning situations. The principal and/or a
counselor and kindergarten teacher will assess the child’s level of
motivation through an informal interview with the child and a more
structured interview with the parents.
2.
At each elementary school, a committee consisting of at least a counselor,
kindergarten teacher, and teacher of gifted students will review all documentation
and make a recommendation on each request for early admission to kindergarten.
The principal of the school will make the final decision on admission. A decision
will be made within three weeks of the receipt of required documentation.
3.
If a child is admitted to kindergarten early, the principal may at any time during
the first 90 days of enrollment rescind the early admission decision based upon
substantial evidence that the child is not adjusting to the school setting. Before a
child is exited from school, the parents/guardians must be invited to assist in
developing intervention strategies.
4.
Early admission to kindergarten does not constitute identification as a gifted
student or qualify the child for special services.
Adopted: August 16, 2010
STOKES COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY MANUAL
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