School District 59 follows Illinois law which specifies that, to enter kindergarten or first grade, children must be five years of age by September 1st of their kindergarten year or six years of age by September 1st of their first grade year. However, School District 59 allows exceptions to this law for children whose potential and skills are in the very superior range when compared with their peers.

District 59 has identified early entrance to kindergarten or first grade as full-grade acceleration, appropriate for those students who are intellectually advanced. The decision to allow a student early entrance is solely at the discretion of the school district. Parents will be responsible for obtaining the required evidence of the child's exceptionally advanced development and any costs incurred.

The decision for a child to enter school early can have a profound effect on his or her academic and social performance for the remainder of the child’s school career. It is a decision that needs to be taken very seriously. Research indicates that early entrance and/or early reading ability is not a predictor of success in school. In fact, children with strong early reading skills often plateau by third grade. 

Children who enter kindergarten or first grade early may demonstrate social or emotional difficulties due to their relative immaturity. As they progress through school, children who are young for their grade level may have more difficulty fitting in with their peers in social situations. They are less likely to excel in sports because of their age and/or their smaller size. These and other possible effects of being younger than others in their classes should be considered carefully. Very few children screened meet the criteria to enter kindergarten or first grade early.

Children eligible for early entrance must turn five years of age for kindergarten, or six years old for first grade, by December 31^st of the current school year. Parents/guardians wishing to apply for early entrance for their child must contact the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at the District Administrative Center and request the Early Entrance Referral Form (also available on-line). The form will ask for the child’s name, date of birth, the type of request (Early Entrance to Kindergarten or First Grade), and contact information. In addition, parents will be asked to provide relevant information that supports their belief that early entrance to school is in the best interest of their child.

Parents who decide to apply for early entrance for their child must use a psychologist or other qualified examiner to obtain the required child evaluation. The completed evaluation report and Early Entrance Referral form should be returned to the principal of the elementary school to which they are seeking early entrance for their child no later than August 10^th. The school principal and appropriate staff will review the evaluation report and a decision regarding the enrollment of the child will be determined. The decision of the principal is final.
Children who are accepted for early entrance will be enrolled on a probationary basis. The school staff will assess each child's initial adjustment to school during the first twenty school days. If a child's initial adjustment is not satisfactory, the principal will request that the child enroll when the child meets the state’s enrollment age requirement for the appropriate grade level. If it is determined that the child's adjustment is satisfactory, the child may continue enrollment in the early entrance program.

Q. What is District 59’s early entrance policy?

A. District 59’s policy states that children must turn five by September 1 of their kindergarten year for admission to kindergarten or six by September 1 of their first-grade year to be admitted to first grade. However, the district’s administration may consider early entrance if children meet the criteria established by the district’s early entrance policy.

Q. If I put my child in private kindergarten, will he/she automatically be eligible for first grade the following year?

A. No. To be considered for early entrance to first grade, children who are not six by September 1 will have to meet the early entrance requirements.

Q. Who makes the decision about whether my child can enter kindergarten or first grade early?

A. The building principal is responsible for making the final decision, taking into consideration the child’s test results, academic performance, and social-emotion development. The principal will notify parents of the final decision regarding early entrance.

Q. Why do children applying for early entrance have to be assessed when other children entering school do not?

A. Children who turn five or six on or before September 1 are age-eligible according to Illinois state law and therefore entitled to enter kindergarten or first grade respectively. A child whose birth date falls between September 1^st and December 31^st may be considered for early entrance but must meet the district’s criteria that demonstrate the child’s skills are in the superior range of development.

Q. Is early entrance to the best choice for my child?

A. Please consider the following:

1. The intent of the early entrance process is to offer a stimulating academic environment for students who are capable of excelling in a classroom setting with children one year older.
2. The standards for early entrance are high to ensure that students are not frustrated by their advanced placement.
3. There may be social issues that have long-term implications for the child.

Q. What are the assessors looking for in the assessments?

A. Children cannot study or prepare for developmental readiness. Assessments include a variety of activities that measure each child’s progress in the following developmental domains:

1. Intellectual development
2. Academic skills and/or readiness
3. Motor skills
4. Personal/social readiness