421- ADMISSION TO KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE (ENTRANCE AGE)

Wisconsin Statute 118.14 mandates the age children must attain prior to being admitted to school. It mandates that no child may be admitted to 4-year-old kindergarten in the Appleton Area School District (AASD) unless the child is four years old on or before September 1 in the year he/she proposes to enter school. There shall be no early admission to 4-year-old kindergarten in the Appleton Area School District. However, the District provides early childhood education services to qualifying children who are at least 3 years old to the extent required by law. 

In most cases, in order to be admitted to 5-year-old kindergarten in the Appleton Area School District, a child must be five years old on or before September 1 in the year he/she proposes to enter school. However, a child who is under the standard legal age may be admitted to 5-year-old kindergarten if the District determines that he/she has met the conditions and standards for early admission as outlined in AASD procedures. 

In most cases, in order to be admitted to first grade in the Appleton Area School District, a child must be six years old on or before September 1 of the year he/she proposes to enter first grade and must have completed 5-year-old kindergarten. However, a child may be admitted to first grade under the standard legal age if he/she has already completed a 5-year-old kindergarten program or its equivalent, as determined by the Appleton Area School District. A child may also be admitted to first grade under the standard legal age and/or without having completed a 5-year-old kindergarten program if the AASD determines that he/she has met the conditions and standards for early admission and/or for an exemption from the state’s kindergarten completion requirement, as outlined in AASD procedures. 

If a child’s request for admission to kindergarten or first grade is denied, the child’s parent or guardian may appeal the decision in writing to the Assistant Superintendent of School Services. The Assistant Superintendent’s decision is final.  

Legal References:
Wisconsin Statutes Sections 118.13, 118.14(1),118.15(1), 118.33(6)(cm), 120.12(25)

Adoption Date: October 22, 1990

Amended Dates: February 11, 2002, June 10, 2013, December 22, 2014, and February 9, 2026.

421-Rule

 5K/FIRST GRADE

Procedures

Initial Request for Early Entrance

*School Psychologist’s Responsibility

• Parents/legal guardians call the school’s office, requesting early entrance.  
  • All requests must be submitted by May 1 before the start of the upcoming school year. 
• Calls will be sent to the School Psychologist.  
• The School Psychologist will answer any initial questions about early entrance and provide the following information:
  • It is the philosophy of Appleton Area School District that children with unique talents, abilities, and development should be allowed to enter 5-year-old kindergarten or first grade at a younger age if they meet certain requirements.
  • Children are eligible to be screened for early entrance if they turn five by November 1 of the year they would enter 5-year-old kindergarten or six by November 1 of the year they would enter first grade. 
  • The process for early entrance is rigorous and challenging. Most children who are screened do not meet AASD early entrance requirements. 
  • Parent/legal guardian will be contacted via email to complete the screening process, which includes completing a Developmental Survey (in May).
  • Students must obtain a score at the 91st percentile or higher (standard score 120+) in all areas to move on to the full early entrance evaluation over the summer.
• Send the following forms to parents:
  • Early Entrance to 5-Year-Old Kindergarten Initial Parent Letter
  • Early Entrance to First Grade Initial Parent Letter
  • Early Entrance Application to 5-Year-Old Kindergarten and First Grade
  • Parent Checklist for Early Entrance

These forms will be returned to the School Principal.

• Following the receipt of the Early Entrance application and parent checklist, the Principal will set up a meeting with parents and the Building School Psychologist to determine if the child will move forward with screening.
• If a family reaches out after the deadline, the family will be referred to the School Principal. The Principal will talk with the family about reasons for later referral and determine if the child will be screened.

Early Entrance Screening Process

*School Psychologist’s Responsibility

• The School Psychologist will work with the family to have a developmental survey completed during the month of May
  • Developmental Profile 4 (Parent/Caregiver checklist)
    • Students must obtain a score at the 91st percentile or higher in all areas to move on to the full early entrance evaluation (standard score 120+)
• After screening, the Building School Psychologist will draft a screening report, discuss results with parents/legal guardians, and determine whether a full evaluation is warranted or not.
• If a full evaluation is warranted, the School Psychologist will submit the student's name to the Summer Evaluation Team.

Full Evaluation

*Summer School Psychologist’s Responsibility 

• If the student is recommended for full evaluation, it will be the responsibility of the Summer School Psychologist to work with the family to complete the following assessments: 
  • Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (or another instrument measuring cognitive ability determined to be culturally appropriate) 
    • Student’s overall cognitive ability score must be at the 91st percentile or higher (standard score 120+)
  • Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement - Broad Achievement subtests
    • Student’s overall cluster scores must be at the 91st percentile or higher (standard score 120+)
  • Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration 
    • Student’s overall cluster scores must be at the 91st percentile or higher (standard score 120+)
  • Adaptive Behavior Assessment System
    • Student must demonstrate “Advanced” or “Above Average” adaptive skills on the composite cluster OR the majority of the subscales
• After the full evaluation, the Summer School Psychologist will draft a full evaluation report and discuss the results with parents/legal guardians. If the student meets early entrance criteria, the Summer School Psychologist will submit a formal recommendation to the Executive Director, who will present the recommendation to the School Board.
  • This process ensures that decisions regarding early entrance are made based on a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation, taking into account the child's academic, cognitive, emotional, and social readiness.

Adoption Date: October 22, 1990

Amended Date: February 11, 2002, June 10, 2013, December 22, 2014, and February 9, 2026.