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Early Entrance

XCS Early Entrance Procedures for Kindergarten: Step by Step

Academic acceleration provides students with curriculum that matches their advanced cognitive abilities and learning speeds. Rather than moving through school at a fixed age-based pace, students may be placed in higher-level subjects or skip grades to ensure they remain appropriately challenged. Our district follows a rigorous, multi-step process to determine if acceleration is the right fit for a student’s academic and social-emotional growth.

At Xenia Community Schools, this includes: Early Entrance to Kindergarten and First Grade, Whole Grade Acceleration (skipping an entire grade), and Subject Acceleration. The most common of these is Early Entrance. 

Early Entrance for Kindergarten & First Grade is a process for children who show exceptional academic and social readiness to start their formal schooling ahead of the standard age requirements. In Ohio, children must now be 5 years of age by the first day of school to start Kindergarten. See the section below for specific information about this option.

Academic Acceleration Guidelines
To ensure student success, the evaluation process for academic acceleration is thorough, data-driven, and collaborative. All decisions are based on factual observations and standardized assessment data.

Core Requirements

  • Evaluation Standards: All evaluations must be fair, comprehensive, and based on objective data.
  • Whole Grade/Early Entrance: The Iowa Acceleration Scale (IAS) is mandatory for all whole-grade or early entrance evaluations. The Gifted Coordinator must be present at all meetings where the IAS is utilized.
  • Subject Acceleration: Placement decisions are based on student achievement, academic standards, above-grade-level testing, and student motivation.
  • Decision Making: While consensus is preferred, a majority vote of the evaluation team will serve as the deciding factor if an agreement cannot be reached.
  • Parental Rights: Parents or guardians may decline services at any time. During the transition period, a request to change placement must be submitted in writing.

  • Any student residing in the district is eligible for early admission.

     

    A referral can be made by:

    • The child’s parent or legal guardian.
    • A district teacher or staff member.
    • A preschool teacher who knows the child.
    • A pediatrician or psychologist who knows the child.

     

    How to start: Pick up a referral form at your local school building and submit it to the school principal. The school must get your written permission before any testing begins.

  • The school will evaluate your child using an assessment approved by the Ohio Department of Education. The timeline for when you receive the results depends on when you submit the referral:

    If you submit a referral between… The evaluation and written report will be finished…
    August 15 - April 15  Within 45 calendar days of submitting the referral.
    April 16 - August 14 Within 45 calendar days of the start of the new school year.

     

  • The school principal will convene an "acceleration evaluation committee" to determine whether early entrance is the right fit. The committee will even take your child’s own thoughts and feelings into consideration.

    The team will include:

    • You (the parent/guardian or a representative you choose).
    • The principal (or assistant principal).
    • A teacher from the grade your child is trying to enter.
    • A gifted education expert (or a school psychologist/guidance counselor).

  • Once the evaluation is complete, the school will host a meeting with you to discuss the results, the committee's decision, and the kindergarten or first-grade program. You will also receive a written summary of the outcome.

  • If early entrance is recommended, the committee will create a written Acceleration Plan for your child. A staff member will be assigned to monitor your child and ensure they are adjusting well.

    The plan will lay out:

    • Exactly where your child will be placed.
    • Strategies to help them succeed.
    • A specific "transition period" to make sure it's working out.

    During the Transition Period:

    Want to pull them out? You can request in writing to withdraw your child from the advanced grade at any time. The principal will move them back with absolutely no penalties or repercussions.

    After the Transition Period:

    Once the transition period ends successfully, the early placement becomes permanent. Your child's official records will be updated, and the acceleration plan will become a permanent part of their file so their future teachers can continue to support them.

  • If you disagree with the decision, you have thirty (30) calendar days from the date you receive the results to appeal the decision in writing to the District Superintendent.

    The Superintendent will review the appeal and give you a final decision within thirty (30) calendar days.

Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

Determining kindergarten readiness involves more than just academic skills! Physical, social, and emotional maturity are equally vital. Use the following checklist as a guide to assess your child’s development.

Please keep in mind that young children reach milestones at different rates. If your child has not yet mastered a specific skill, they may show significant progress in the coming weeks.

Is your child ready for kindergarten?

  • Does your child... 

    • Enjoy outdoor play such as running, jumping, and climbing?
    • Draw and trace basic shapes?
    • Cut with scissors?
    • Bounce a ball or ride a tricycle?

  • Has your child…

    • Had required shots?
    • Had a dental exam?
    • Had a vision exam?
    • Learned their own first and last name?
    • Learned first and last name of a parent?
    • Learned to watch for cars when crossing the street?
    • Learned to not talk to strangers?
    • Developed a set routine for going to bed?
    • Learned to follow rules for safety?

  • Without your help, can your child: 

    • Use the bathroom?
    • Wash hands?
    • Brush teeth?
    • Use tissue to blow their nose?
    • Button and zip up shirt and pants?
    • Put on and take off coat?
    • Tie and/or velcro shoes?

  • Does your child…

    • Play well ith other children?
    • Separate from a parent without being upset?
    • Share with other children?
    • Care about the feelings of others?
    • Follow routines?
    • Put toys away when asked?

Tips and Activities to Help Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

  • Materials that will help your child develop the motor skills needed to learn to write include crayons​, markers​, pencils​, glue​, scissors​, paper and paint​, puzzles​, Legos​, and blocks. 
  • Activities that will help your child's coordination include climbing, jumping, skipping, playing ball, using playground equipment, and riding a tricycle.
  • Help your child learn their full name, address, and telephone number. 
  • Help your child to look both ways when crossing the street. 
  • Talk with your child about strangers and who to go to for help. 
  • Use bedtime as the opportunity to read to and talk with your child. 
  • Create morning and bedtime bathing and toothbrushing routines. 
  • Allow your child to dress themselves. 
  • Practice putting on their shoes. 
  • Help your child learn to use their words to help to tell other grown-ups when they're feeling sick or hurt. 
  • Give your child small chores to learn responsibility. 
  • Help your child learn to follow directions by giving simple steps. 
  • Encourage your child to share. 
  • Praise your child when he or she does something well. 
  • Provide guidance when your child is having difficulty.

Making the Best Choice for Your Student

Is Early Entrance to Kindergarten the Best Choice for Your Child? 

Early entrance should be viewed as a means of meeting a child’s needs. The key to determining whether or not early entrance is appropriate for a child is developmental readiness. Even though a child may have a lot of ability, they may not be ready for kindergarten. Other important factors to consider are social maturity, personal development, and motor development.


Early entrance is designed for the exceptional child who is both academically ready as well as developmentally mature when compared to others his or her chronological age.


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 he/she?
  • 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 (e.g., beginning college at a younger age)?
  • Early entrance is not designed as a replacement for child care. Is this a need or a want?
  • Do I understand the expectations for students in kindergarten today?

 

There is a difference between ability and achievement. Some children may appear exceptional simply because of their access to opportunities (e.g., 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.

Once the decision has been made for early entrance, the choice is difficult to reverse. If a child is evaluated as a good candidate for early entrance to kindergarten, it is important that all stakeholders are supportive of the decision.

What to Look for in Areas of Ability/Achievement/Aptitude/Behavior

My child seems advanced beyond other children their age in these ways:

  • Understands the meanings and use of words better than other children his/her age
  • Is curious about many things and asks questions often
  • Is very good at working puzzles or solving problems
  • Has a great sense of humor and understands jokes more than other children his/her age
  • Has a good memory and remembers details of conversations or stories
  • Is interested in difficult concepts such as time and space
  • Concentrates on certain activities much longer than other children his/her age
  • Reads and understands text in picture books or chapter books
  • Figures out math-related problems better than other children his/her age

 

Expectations of Kindergarten Students

Kindergarten has changed considerably over the last couple of decades! Today’s kindergarten students are engaged in a rigorous instructional program.

Parents can access the Early Learning Content Standards as well as the subject specific Academic Content Standards K-12 for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies on the Ohio Department of Education website.

ODEW Kindergarten Readiness Checklist – The Ohio Department of Education provides parents with a Kindergarten Readiness Checklist
which can act as a guide for parents to determine if a child is ready for kindergarten.

ODEW Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) Screening – The Ohio Department of Education’s website also provides information about the New Kindergarten Readiness Assessment which all kindergarten students take within the first six weeks of school.

Kindergarten in the Xenia Community School District is a full-day program. Students are expected to participate in the academic program throughout the entire day.