Early Entry - Kindergarten or First Grade

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Early Entrance for Kindergarten or First Grade
AND

Entrance for First Grade without attending Kindergarten


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN/FIRST GRADE

The School Board has established guidelines for enrollment that are consistent with Indiana law, sound educational practice, and ensure equitable treatment and proper placement. 

Indiana statute, I.C. 20-33-2-7 establishes a statewide entrance date for public school kindergarten.  Based on state law, a student residing in Indiana must be at least five (5) years of age on or before August 1 in order to enroll in public school kindergarten and six (6) years of age on or before August 1  to enroll in first grade. 

In accordance with the South Madison School Board’s Entrance Requirement policy (5112), each child of legal settlement or a sibling of a currently enrolled non-resident student shall be eligible for 
Kindergarten providing that s/he has attained the age of five (5) on or before August 1 of the corresponding school year.  First-grade students must be six (6) on or before August 1 of the corresponding school year. These requirements shall apply to children who transfer into the School Corporation and who may have attended private or public kindergarten in another locality. Additionally, an incoming first-grade student who has not attended a kindergarten program shall be screened to determine the best placement for that child. 

 

APPEAL PROCESS
As a general rule, we believe that it is beneficial for students to meet the state requirement to enter kindergarten or first grade.  However, we recognize that there are some children are socially, emotionally, AND academically ready and would benefit from early entrance.  Based on board policy, South Madison will consider appeals to the Indiana age rule of August 1st.  

An appeal may be requested by the parent/guardian for a student who does not meet the state enrollment age for consideration based on the following guidelines: (1) t
he child must be of legal settlement within the South Madison Community School Corporation or a sibling of a currently enrolled non-resident student who lives in the same residence to be enrolled in kindergarten, AND (2) the child’s birthday falls after August 1 or in September.  No child whose birthday is later than September 30 will be considered for an appeal.

Consideration of the appeal is based on the child's screening results in all areas (social, emotional, and academic readiness) AND space availability at the requested school.


To appeal, the parent/guardian must submit a request no later than three (3) weeks prior to the start of the school year.  As a reminder, applications for early enrollment will only be considered for only for children with August or September birthdays.  

Following submission of the appeal request, the child will participate in screening.  You will be contacted to schedule an appointment for screening.  Parent/guardian will be asked to bring their child to a testing location.  The screening process will take approximately 1 hour.  Once the screening is finished and scored, the decision whether or not to approve the appeal and enroll the child in the kindergarten (or first grade) program will be made. You will be notified by email within two (2) weeks of your child’s screening date. 

SCREENING DATES for 2024-25 School Year:  The initial screening window will be the first week of May. Results will follow in mid-May. 
 

APPEAL FOR ENTRANCE TO FIRST GRADE WITHOUT COMPLETION OF A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
South Madison believes that as a general rule, it is beneficial for students to complete a kindergarten program prior to first grade.  However, based on board policy, South Madison will consider appeals to this rule.  

FORM AND PROCESS

Click Here for Early Entrance to Kindergarten Form

Click Here (coming soon) for Early Entrance to First Grade or First Grade without Kindergarten Request Form

Click Here for Information about the Screener

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