Madison Metropolitan School District
Board of Education Policies and Procedures

POLICY	ATTENDANCE	4011 Pupils

Kindergarten Entrance Age

First Grade Entrance Age

1. No child who becomes five years of age after September 1st may be enrolled in regular kindergarten.
2. No child who becomes six years of age after September 1st may be enrolled in first grade.
3. Exceptions to the standard enrollment ages may be made pursuant to Section 120.12(25) of the Wisconsin Statutes.

PROCEDURE	ATTENDANCE	4011 Pupils

Kindergarten Entrance Age

1. A child who becomes five years of age between September 1 and December 31 may enroll in kindergarten only after satisfactory completion of preliminary student assessments. Assessment may be done either at the local school building or in a special early entrance screening program at the request of the parent or guardian. A child who has been admitted to kindergarten in another public school district prior to moving into the Madison Metropolitan School District shall be allowed to enter kindergarten in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
2. No child should be assessed for early entrance into kindergarten after the THIRD FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER.
3. A child being assessed for early entrance into kindergarten must demonstrate the social, emotional, physical, and mental maturity normally expected for successful participation in kindergarten.

   Criteria: The child should be:

   1. Superior in intellectual growth as determined by a valid intellectual assessment;
   2. S/he should have superior language skills and the ability to express herself/himself well.
   3. S/he should show an interest in school-type activities.
   4. Well developed physically and in good general health.
      1. S/he should enjoy working and playing with other children who will be in the grade.
      2. S/he should be ready to work independently for reasonable periods of time.
      3. S/he should show evidence of emotional stability.
      4. S/he should show the ability to cooperate with others.
4. Procedures in the assessment are as follows:
   1. A personal interview shall be conducted by a representative of the Madison School District to determine the parent's reasons for requesting entrance prior to the legal age.
   2. An evaluation of the child's potential to benefit from early admission to kindergarten shall be required. The evaluation shall consider emotional stability, social and mental maturity, and physical health. The individual evaluation shall be conducted by a certified school psychologist in conjunction with other appropriate pupil service workers. The evaluation shall be at no cost to the parents.
   3. After the evaluation in 4.b. (of this paragraph) has been completed, a conference shall be held with the parents to consider the appropriateness of early entrance into kindergarten.
   4. The SUPERINTENDENT or his/her designee has the final authority for deciding whether or not the child is to be admitted to kindergarten.

First Grade Entrance Age

1. A child who becomes six years of age between September 1 and December 31 may enroll in First Grade only after satisfactory completion of preliminary student assessments. Assessments may be done either at the request of the parent or guardian.
2. No child shall be assessed for early entrance into first grade after the THIRD FRIDAY IN SEPTEMBER.
3. A child being assessed for early entrance into first grade must demonstrate the social, emotional, physical, and mental maturity normally expected for successful participation in first grade.

   Criteria: The child should be:

   1. Superior in intellectual growth as determined by a valid intellectual assessment;
   2. S/he should have superior language skills and the ability to express herself/himself well.
   3. S/he should show an interest in school-type activities.
   4. Well developed physically and in good general health.
      1. S/he should enjoy working and playing with other children who will be in the grade.
      2. S/he should be ready to work independently for reasonable periods of time.
      3. S/he should show evidence of emotional stability.
      4. S/he should show the ability to cooperate with others.
4. Procedures in the assessment are as follows:
   1. A personal interview shall be conducted by a representative from the Madison School District to determine the parent's reasons for requesting entrance prior to the legal age.
   2. An evaluation of the child's potential to benefit from early admission to first grade shall be required. The evaluation shall consider emotional stability, social and mental maturity, and physical health. The individual evaluation shall be conducted by a certified school psychologist in conjunction with other appropriate pupil service workers. The evaluation shall be at no cost to the parents.
   3. After the evaluation in 4.b. (of this paragraph) has been completed, a conference shall be held with the parents to consider the appropriateness of early entrance into first grade.
   4. The SUPERINTENDENT or his/her designee has the final authority for deciding whether or not the child is to be admitted to first grade.
5. A child shall be allowed to enter first grade without a preliminary student assessment if:
   1. The child was admitted to and successfully completed kindergarten under s. 120.12(25); or
   2. The child successfully completed a program for five-year old children which the Madison Metropolitan School District deems equivalent to kindergarten; or
   3. The child was admitted to first grade in another public school district prior to moving into the Madison Metropolitan School District.

s. 120.12(25)
8/26/02

Last Updated: Wed Nov 14 08:07:26 2007
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