Eligibility Criteria

In the state of Washington, students must be five years old by August 31 to register for kindergarten. Children whose 5th birthday falls between September 1 and October 31, and whose parents believe them to be exceptionally qualified, may apply for early entrance to kindergarten. Children whose fifth birthday falls after October 31 are not eligible to apply for early entrance to kindergarten.

The Hood Canal School District does not recommend the placement of children in kindergarten before their 5th birthday. It is the desire of the district that children have a successful kindergarten experience and, in most cases, this is best achieved when they enter kindergarten at an older, rather than younger, age.

Considerations for Parents

Each year, most early entrance students in other districts end up withdrawing at the end of the evaluation period (30 days). For the majority of withdrawn students, the chief obstacle to their success is emotional maturity and the ability to handle a five-day, high-demand educational setting—not their academic readiness.

The decision to enter school early is not just a kindergarten decision; it impacts the student's entire school career, including when they enter puberty, start driving, and meet other developmental milestones relative to their classmates.

Research References

Research has shown that age can be a significant factor in a child's readiness for kindergarten. Younger children often face challenges related to emotional and social maturity, which can impact their overall school experience. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), children who are younger than their peers may struggle with the demands of a structured school environment, which can affect their academic performance and social relationships (NAEYC, 2019).

Another study published in the journal Pediatrics found that younger children in kindergarten were more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared to their older peers (Elder, 2010). This suggests that age and maturity play crucial roles in a child's ability to adapt to the school setting.

Evaluation Process

Recognizing that a single cut-off date does not meet the individual needs of all students, the Hood Canal School District has established an evaluation process for early entrance to kindergarten for those students turning 5 between September 1 and October 31. To be considered for early admission the child must perform a grade level (or year) above their current placement in all of the following areas: (1) physical, health and motor development; (2) social and emotional development; (3) approaches toward learning; (4) language, literacy and communication; and (5) cognition and general knowledge.  Parents can provide assessment results or request assessment by the district to determine the child's readiness for this placement.

Request Process

The first step in our process is for parents to contact our Principal Steven Torres by email or phone at (360) 877-5463. The deadline for referrals is August 15. Please note, it is the parent/legal guardian's responsibility to submit a letter of request providing evidence of the child's advanced skills in the five areas identified above. The parent must also submit results of a formal evaluation by a Washington licensed psychologist or a Washington certificated school psychologist or request that the school conduct an assessment.

Decision

Those results will be reviewed by the principal, kindergarten teacher, and early learning coordinator to make a decision regarding early entry to kindergarten for the child. The decision of this team is final and there is no appeal. If approval has been received, you may register your student for conditional placement into kindergarten. Continued kindergarten placement will be determined at the end of the 30-day temporary placement.

We encourage parents to think carefully about their child’s entire school career when considering early entrance to kindergarten. This careful consideration will increase the likelihood of success for the child who is selected for early entrance. Another safeguard is for the assessment team to collect as much information as possible and identify the factors that will determine a child’s chance for overall success.

We look forward to working with you. If you have additional questions regarding this process, please contact Principal Torres.

References

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2019). Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8.

• Elder, T. E. (2010). The Importance of Relative Standards in ADHD Diagnoses: Evidence Based on Exact Birth Dates. Pediatrics, 124(6), 1395-1401.