KINDERGARTEN EARLY ENTRANCE

Changes in Kindergarten Eligibility

The Nebraska Legislature changed the law governing when children begin kindergarten in public schools. As of the 2012-13 school year, students may enter kindergarten if they turn five years of age by July 31 during the summer preceding their enrollment in kindergarten – a date that was previously Oct. 15.

However, children who were born between those two dates – July 31 and Oct. 15 – are eligible to participate in kindergarten under the following conditions:

The child attended kindergarten in another jurisdiction in the current school year.
The family anticipates relocation to another jurisdiction that would allow admission within the current school year.
The child’s performance on the assessment procedures adopted by the Board of Education indicates that he/she is capable of carrying the work of kindergarten.

Procedure and Assessment

A Fremont Public School psychologist will administer a screening assessment that takes into consideration the developmental domains of Academic Readiness Skills, Language Skills, Social/Emotional Skills, Motor Skills, and Self-Help Skills. If the child scores at least two standard deviations above the mean on the screening assessment, an individual test of intelligence will be administered. A child who scores at least two standard deviations above the mean on this individual intelligence test will be given further consideration for entrance into kindergarten.

Parents wishing to complete the assessment must pay $125.00 to the Business Office in advance of the assessment procedures. Costs may be waived in the event a family meets the income standards for free lunch.

The final decision on approval or denial all early-entry applications will be made by the Office of Student Services for Fremont Public Schools. There is no provision in the policy for reevaluation, retest, or parental appeal to the district decision

Decisions regarding early kindergarten entrance must include consideration of the above and shall not be made based on race, color, gender, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, age, disability, or sexual orientation of the child or the child’s parents or guardians. Institutional factors, such as class and program capacity, may also be considered.

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