The Board of Education establishes the following entrance age requirements for students, which are consistent with statute and sound educational practice, and directs that all eligible students be treated in an equitable manner.

A child is eligible for entrance into kindergarten if s/he attains the age of five (5) on or before August 1st of the year in which s/he applies for entrance. A child under age six (6) who is enrolled in kindergarten will be considered of compulsory school age.

The Board will admit to kindergarten any child who has not attained the entrance age requirement of this District, but who properly enrolled and attended an approved public or private school kindergarten before transferring to this District.

While the District operates an all-day kindergarten program, a parent may enroll his/her child for only the minimum number of hours required by State law without penalty, and the Board shall accommodate such students.

A child is eligible for entrance into first grade if s/he attains the age of six (6) on or before August 1st of the year in which s/he applies for entrance and has completed the kindergarten program of this District or an equivalent program elsewhere and has been recommended by the teacher for advancement to the first grade. This requirement may only be waived if a request is made and approved by the District's Pupil Personnel Services Committee.

The Superintendent shall require that each child who registers for entrance to school provide:

If such documents are not provided, the child may be admitted under the Superintendent's guidelines. Appropriate law enforcement authorities shall be notified in the event that required documents are not provided in accordance with the provisions of R.C. 3313.672. However, a child who is placed in a foster home or residential facility (i.e., a group home for children, children’s crisis care facility, children’s residential center, residential parenting facility that provides twenty-four (24) hour child care, county children’s home, or district children’s home) will not be denied admission solely because the child does not present a birth certificate, comparable certification, or other comparable document upon registration. Such protected child will be admitted under temporary enrollment for a period of up to ninety (90) days to present the required documentation. The protected child and/or the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian will be so informed at the time of the child’s initial admission.

Each child entering the District's kindergarten or first grade program for the first time must be properly screened for any medical or health problems as well as those related to hearing, vision, speech and communications. The cost for such screening shall be paid by the parents.

Any parent may provide the District with a written statement indicating that s/he does not wish to have his/her child screened.

The District provides early admission to kindergarten and first grade for qualified students. Copies of the referral forms for evaluation for early entrance to kindergarten or first grade will be available in each school building. Any student residing in the District may be referred by a staff member or a parent/guardian to the principal of the school for evaluation for possible early admission. Students may refer themselves or a peer through a staff member who has knowledge of the referred child's abilities.

Pursuant to R.C. 3321.01, all children who will be the proper age for entrance to kindergarten or first grade by the first day of January of the school year for which admission is requested shall be evaluated upon request of the child's parent or legal guardian. Children who will not be the proper age for entrance to kindergarten or first grade by the first day of January of the school year for which admission is requested shall also be evaluated for early admittance if referred by an educator within the District, a pre-school educator who knows the child, or a pediatrician or psychologist who knows the child. Such children may also be evaluated at the discretion of the principal of the school to which the student may be admitted.

Before a student is evaluated for early entrance, the principal (or his/her designee) of the school to which the child may be admitted shall obtain written permission from the child's parent/guardian.

Evaluations related to referrals submitted to the school principal between August 15th and April 15th, will ordinarily be completed and a written report issued within forty-five (45) calendar days of submission of the referral to the school principal. Evaluations related to referrals submitted to the school principal between April 16th and August 14th will ordinarily be completed and a written report issued within forty-five (45) days of the start of the school year.

Children referred for early entrance will be evaluated in a prompt manner. The principal of the school to which the child may be admitted shall convene an acceleration evaluation committee to determine whether early entrance is appropriate for that child. The acceleration evaluation committee shall include the following:

The acceleration evaluation committee shall be responsible for conducting a fair and thorough evaluation of the student. The acceleration evaluation committee will also consider the student's own thoughts on possible accelerated placement in its deliberations.

Children considered for early entrance shall be evaluated using an acceleration assessment process approved by the Ohio Department of Education.

A meeting will be conducted with the parent/guardian following the evaluation to inform him/her of the committee's decision and, if appropriate, to discuss the results of the evaluation and the nature of the kindergarten or first grade program.

The parent/guardian will be provided with a written summary of the outcome of the evaluation process. This notification shall include instructions for appealing the outcome of the evaluation process.

Appeals must be made in writing to the Superintendent within thirty (30) calendar days of the parent/guardian receiving the results of the evaluation. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall review the appeal and notify the parent/guardian of his/her decision within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the appeal. The Superintendent or his/her designee's decision will be final.

If a child is recommended for early entrance, the acceleration evaluation committee will develop a written acceleration plan for that child. The plan will specify:

A school staff member will be assigned to oversee the implementation of the acceleration plan and to monitor the child's adjustment to the early entrance.

At any time during the transition period, a parent/guardian of the child may request in writing that the child be withdrawn from the accelerated placement. In such cases, the principal shall remove the child without repercussions.

Also, at any time during the transition period, a parent/guardian may request in writing an alternative accelerated placement. In such cases, the principal shall direct the acceleration evaluation committee to consider other placement options and to issue a decision within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving the request. If the student will be placed in a different setting from that initially recommended, the acceleration plan shall be revised accordingly, and a new transition period shall be specified.

At the end of the transition period, the accelerated placement shall become permanent. The child's records shall be modified accordingly, and the acceleration plan shall become part of the student's permanent record to facilitate continuous progress through the curriculum.

R.C. 3313.64, 3313.641, 3313.672, 3313.673, 3321.01 et seq., 3321.05, 3323.01
R.C. 3324.10

Revised 6/20/13
Revised 10/23/13
Revised 7/23/14
Revised 7/15/15
Revised 5/18/16