The Anoka-Hennepin School Board recently approved a new policy that will allow parents to apply for early entrance into kindergarten for children who are almost 5 years old. Parents and guardians of children whose fifth birthdays fall between Sept. 2 and Oct. 31 may submit an application to have students considered for that year's kindergarten class instead of waiting until the next year.
"These are the students most emotionally and socially ready for kindergarten," said Lynn Montgomery, Assistant Director of Student Services. "We want this to be a positive, successful experience for the child so we want to do everything we can to ensure that."
Prior to this change, district policy was that every child entering kindergarten had be 5 years old by Sept. 1 of that year.
The application for early entrance into kindergarten includes a parent/guardian questionnaire, a copy of the birth certificate and a letter of recommendation from a preschool or other group setting teacher and is due by May 10. A formal intellectual assessment is also required, and will be administered free of charge in June at the Anoka-Hennepin Family Welcome Center by a licensed school psychologist.
The assistant director of student services, the kindergarten principal, and the building principal will review early entrance into kindergarten applications. Each student will also have a follow-up review after six weeks in the kindergarten program.
For more information, parents may call the Screening Office at 763-433-4833. The application can be downloaded from the district Web site at: www.anoka.k12.mn.us/documentcenter in the kindergarten folder.
