THE EARLY ENTRANCE APPLICATION FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR IS NOW CLOSED.
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Early Entrance to Kindergarten is the admission of a student to kindergarten who will not yet be five years old by the September 1st deadline of that school year and whose 5th birthday falls on or between September 2 and October 31st, as documented by a certified copy of the birth certificate.
Early Entrance to First Grade is the admission of a student to first grade who will not yet be six years old by the September 1st deadline of that school year and whose 6th birthday falls on or between September 2 and October 31st, as documented by a certified copy of the birth certificate.
The district has specific criteria and procedures for considering family requests for early entrance. The decision for a child to enter school early can have a profound effect on their academic and social wellbeing throughout their entire school career. Although a child may exhibit high ability, please be aware they may not be ready for early entrance.
Since Peoria Public Schools gives serious consideration to all factors in the decision for a child to enter school early, the criteria for early entrance is very rigorous. The process is designed to ensure the student is not hindered by the challenges of the instructional program and to consider the long-term effects that early placement may have. On average, only 10-15% of students who apply are accepted for early entrance through this process.
Criteria for Early Entrance to Kindergarten
1. Fifth birthdate must fall on or between September 2, 2024, and October 31, 2024, as documented by a certified copy of the birth certificate.
2. Documentation of meeting the district's residency requirement (review boundaries here)
2. Demonstration of the emotional and social maturity necessary to be successful in kindergarten, as evaluated by the Brigance Early Childhood screening tool
3. Demonstration of the academic readiness to be successful in kindergarten, as evaluated by the district's readiness screener and a normed cognitive assessment
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? | |
|---|---|
DEVELOPMENT AREA | TIPS & ACTIVITIES TO PREPARE |
Physical Skills Does your child... Enjoy outdoor play such as running, jumping, and climbing? Draw and trace basic shapes? Cut with scissors? Bounce a ball? | Practice with materials to help develop motor skills including crayons, markers, pencils, glue, scissors, puzzles, tweezers, and blocks. Engage in activities to develop coordination including climbing, jumping, skipping, playing ball, and using playground equipment. Practice with activities that require both small (drawing, pinching things) and large (kicking, running) limb movements. |
Personal Skills Without your help, can your child... Say their own first and last name? Use the bathroom? Wash hands? Button and zip shirt and pants? Tie and/or use velco shoes? | Help your child memorize their full name, address, and telephone number. Create morning and bedtime routines for brushing teeth and washing. Have your child to dress themselves. Practice putting on shoes, buttoning, and zipping up clothes. |
Social & Emotional Skills Does your child... Play well with other children? Separate from family members without being upset? Share with other children? Care about the feelings of others? Follow routines? Ask for help when needed? Show interest in reading and writing? | Have your child practice using words to ask for help when feeling sick or hurt. Give your child small chores to learn responsibility. Have your child follow simple directions independently. Encourage your child when they try to do something they find difficult. Provide many opportunities for your child to play with other children, and help resolve any conflict that arises. |
Adapted from the Ohio Department of Education Kindergarten Readiness Checklist | |
Criteria for Early Entrance to First Grade
1. Sixth birthdate must fall on or between September 2, 2024, and October 31, 2024, as documented by a certified copy of the birth certificate
2. Documentation of meeting the district's residency requirement (review boundaries here)
3. Documentation of at least one-year of attendance at a preschool and/or kindergarten program with an appropriately certified teacher
2. Demonstration of the emotional and social maturity necessary to be successful in first grade, as evaluated by the Brigance Early Childhood screening tool
3. Demonstration of the academic readiness to be successful in first grade, as evaluated by the district's readiness screener and a normed cognitive assessment
Questions? Contact Amanda Brown at amanda.brown@psd150.org.
Application Process
After reviewing the criteria above, families who want to apply for early entrance for their child should follow the process below. You can access the application and Brigance parent feedback forms using the links at the bottom of this webpage.
PHASE I
1. Complete the Early Entrance application.
2. Mail (1) a copy of your child's certified birth certificate, (2) documentation of address such as a utility bill or copy of lease agreement, and (3) a completed kindergarten BRIGANCE or first-grade BRIGANCE parent feedback form to the following address. For early entrance to first grade applications, you must also mail documentation of at least one-year of attendance at preschool and/or kindergarten. NOTE: Applications that are missing any of these items by the April 12, 2024 deadline will not be considered.
Peoria Public Schools
Attention: Amanda Brown
3202 North Wisconsin Avenue
Peoria, IL 61603
or
Email to amanda.brown@psd150.org
3. A Peoria Public Schools representative will contact you to set up a screening appointment to occur between April 15, 2024 and May 3, 2024.
3. (If applicable) A BRIGANCE Early Childhood Teacher Feedback form will be sent to your child's current daycare, preschool, or kindergarten teacher for completion.
Families will be notified by mail of the results of Phase I.
Students who meet the criteria for readiness on the BRIGANCE Early Childhood screening tool and the kindergarten readiness screener will move on to Phase II.
PHASE II
1. A Peoria Public Schools representative will contact you to set up an appointment for completion of a normed cognitive assessment with a school psychologist to occur between May 6, 2024 and May 24, 2024.
2. Students must score in the 85th percentile or higher on the cognitive assessment to be considered for early entrance. All scores are final and there are no exceptions.
Families will be notified by mail of the results of Phase II between May 28, 2024 and June 7, 2024.
Students who meet the criteria for readiness in Phase II will be invited to enroll in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. Those who do not meet the criteria are encouraged to explore enrollment opportunities at our Early Childhood program in Peoria Public Schools.