Early Entrance Into Kindergarten

  • Millburn School District CCSD 24 has established guidelines and procedures for parents requesting early admission to kindergarten when a child’s birthday falls between the State of Illinois requirement of September 1st and December 31st of a given school year and s/he has completed a private kindergarten program. The district recognizes that children develop at different rates socially, emotionally, physically, and academically, so kindergarten readiness can vary.

    John Hattie, one of the world's best-known and most widely read education experts, did a study on the relative age of students and how that impacts learning. Relative age is defined as the difference in age between two or more students within a date range. In education, it would be the difference in age between school children in the same class. In his study, he notes, "There is a reasonable high effect for relative age within a class.....For example, students start school when they turn 5, there can be an 11 month difference within the classroom (some at 5 years 0 months and some 5 years 11 months) when the school year starts. This is 20% of a lifetime difference when entering Kindergarten. At this age, older children are generally bigger, faster, stronger, and more coordinated than their younger age peers....In the early years, relative cognitive and social immaturity play a major part, and there is social comparison process, as students compare their performance with their peers. This big-fish-little-pond effect occurs when relatively younger students compare their accomplishments with relatively older classmates who are physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally more mature."" (Hattie, 2023, p 206-207).

    Hattie, J. (2023) Visible Learning: The Sequel

    Keep in mind the relative age will increase with early entrance into Kindergarten as the range then would expand within the classroom, possibly having students over a year older than early entrance students. In his study, the broader the range of ages within the classroom, a lesser impact on achievement. The shorter the range of ages, the more impact on achievement. 

    Because of this, our process needs to assure 100% success for any student accepted for early entrance. Our Early Entrance Committee wants to assure that students that are accepted for early entrance are both academically and social-emotionally successful when they come to school. The committee needs to be able to see that students are at a high level in both aspects during the early entrance process.  Here are some key things we look for in excellent candidates for early entrance:

    • Able to rhyme
    • Understands the concept of a word and that words are made up of sounds
    • Independent reader
    • Independent writer of 2-3 sentences
    • Identify/ Writing Numbers
    • Counting in Sequence
    • Counting Objects
    • Identify Shapes (2D)
    • Being able to take feedback from adults
    • Can easily transition between activities
    • Interacts appropriately with peers and adults
    • Strong fine motor skills (ex: use of scissors, holding and writing with pencil)

    If your child does not meet our criteria for early entrance, we will monitor the child's progress once they enter Kindergarten. If we feel grade-level acceleration is warranted when they are in Kindergarten, we can consider that. 

     

     

    Parents Making the Decision for Early Entrance- Click HERE

     

    Initial Criteria for Early Admission to Kindergarten:


    1. The child must live within Millburn School District boundaries and turn five years old
    after September 1st and by December 31st of the ensuing school year.

    2. Parents must submit the following paperwork by April 15th to the district office prior to
    the school year to initiate the process. All materials must be submitted together in order to continue the process. 

    3. New residents who move in after the April 15th deadline, should contact the district
    offices as soon as possible to make arrangements for early admission screening.


    4. Candidates and their parent(s) will be required to attend a screening with the
    kindergarten staff before the school year ends. The date will be arranged with all parties.