Early Entrance to Kindergarten or First Grade

About Early Entrance

A unique type of whole-grade acceleration is early entrance to school (i.e., Kindergarten or first grade). When considering early entrance into kindergarten or first grade, keep in mind it is a process designed to meet the academic and social needs of the child. Students accepted into Kindergarten or 1st grade early are placed in a class where peers could be up to two years older.

Early entrance is considered when guardians request that their child be enrolled in Kindergarten or 1st grade at the start of the upcoming school year even though the child is not yet five years old (Kindergarten)/six years old (1st grade) on or before September 1.

Criteria for Early Entrance to Kindergarten

The child’s fifth birthday falls between September 2, 20XX and November 30, 20XX
Child attended a preschool taught by a certified early childhood teacher
Child attends initial Kindergarten screening hosted at Washington Elementary School (scores in each assessed area fall within the average range when compared to other incoming Kindergarteners)
Complete and submit the following forms:

○ Early Entrance Request Form - Due April 1st
After your request has been reviewed, if eligible for early entrance consideration you will receive an email inviting you to complete two Questionnaires for district review:
○ Parent Questionnaire for District review - Due April 15th
○ Preschool Teacher Questionnaire - Due April 15th
If eligible, child is screened for school readiness
If eligible, both guardian and current preschool teacher complete questionnaires to return to Cindy Sementa, Student Services Coordinator.

Criteria for Early Entrance to First Grade

The child’s sixth birthday falls between September 2, 20xx and December 31, 20xx
Child attends a full-day preschool/kindergarten program.
Complete and submit the following form:

○ Early Entrance Request Form - Due April 1st
After your request has been reviewed, if eligible you will receive an email inviting you to complete two Questionnaires for district review:
○ Parent Questionnaire for District review - Due April 15th
○ Preschool Teacher Questionnaire - Due April 15th

Child is screened for school readiness
If eligible, both guardian and current preschool/kindergarten teacher complete questions to return to Cindy Sementa, Student Services Coordinator.

Timeline

End of February: Application Window Opens
April 15th: Parent Application Due
Late April: Initial Early Entrance Kindergarten Screenings
May: Early Entrance School Readiness Screenings; Questionnaires sent to teacher and parent to complete and return
June: Final placement decision shared with family

Mundelein Elementary School District 75
Acceleration Process 2023 Informational PDF