Early Entrance to Kindergarten
Information and Requirements
The South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools has a September 30 cut off for students to turn 5 years old in order to enroll for kindergarten. Early entrance is available for the exceptional child who is both academically ready as well as developmentally mature when compared to others their age. Some children may appear exceptional simply because of their access to opportunities (i.e., preschool programs, parents working with them on skills, or access to learning materials). Early entrance is designed for the child who has high ability and easily achieves when presented with new material.
Some considerations when determining if early entrance is right for a child:
- Is my child capable of working in a classroom setting with children who are one year older than they are?
- Will my child be frustrated by this placement?
- What are the possible long-term impacts as my child progresses through elementary, middle, and high school (i.e., beginning college at a younger age)?
- Not designed as a replacement for childcare. Is this a need or a want?
- Do I understand the expectations for students in kindergarten today?
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Does my child qualify for early entrance to kindergarten?
- On or before September 30: If your child turns 5 on or before September 30, they are eligible for kindergarten. There is no need to request Early Entrance. Visit the kindergarten page for information, then head to the enroll page when you're ready to get enrolled!
- Between October 1 and December 31: The South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools uses a process and objective criteria to determine if Early Entrance is an appropriate placement for your child.
- Jan 1 or later: If your child has a birthday on or after January 1, the school will use the Iowa Acceleration Scale to evaluate them for Early Entrance.
*Early entrance should only be requested if you feel your child is cognitively gifted, academically ready, and developmentally mature.
What criteria are used to determine early entrance to kindergarten?
To meet criteria for early entrance the child must be considered Gifted with Superior Cognitive Ability using an approved individual standardized intelligence test administered by a licensed or certified school psychologist or licensed psychologist. The child must score two standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement, to move forward in the Early Entrance Evaluation process. This means the child must have a score of 130 to meet criteria. This requirement indicates the child has performed as well or better than about 98% of same age peers. If the child meets this threshold, then further assessment will be administered using The Iowa Acceleration Scale, 3rd Edition.
What is Expected of Students in Kindergarten?
Kindergarten has changed considerably over the last several years. Today’s kindergarten students are engaged in a rigorous instructional program. Educational standards help teachers ensure their students have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful by providing clear goals for student learning. Parents can access the Ohio Learning Standards for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies by visiting the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's website.
It is important to note that very few children who are assessed for early entrance to kindergarten meet the criteria and qualify. Parents and/or guardians should have a contingency plan should the child not meet the criteria for early entrance to kindergarten.
For More Information:
Contact the Office of Exceptional Students at 216-691-2026 if you would like more information and/or to request an Early Entrance to Kindergarten Information and Referral Packet.