FAAB-AR: Early Entrance Requirements

Early entrance decisions shall be made in the best interest of the student after a careful evaluation of all the factors relating to the advantages and disadvantages of alternatives. Every effort shall be made to identify special needs and talents of children early in their school careers so appropriate placements can be made. Decisions about student early entrance will include a team-based evaluation process.  This evaluation process will use formal assessments and informal data collection that includes a thorough review of the student’s history and input from the child’s family and prior educators.   Team members will include the child’s family, current or previous educators (if applicable), a school psychologist, and building administration. The team making the decision will review data, discuss advantages and disadvantages, and a final decision will be made by the school principal.

EARLY ENTRANCE TO KINDERGARTEN

In accordance with North Dakota Century Code, West Fargo may not enroll in kindergarten a child who is not five years old before August first unless the child will be five years old before December first and the child can demonstrate academic, social and emotional readiness through the West Fargo early entrance evaluation criteria.  The early entrance referral process will be posted on the school website.  For families living in the West Fargo attendance area, the application form and questionnaire is due in mid-April each school year.  If a student moves into the district after this time, they can continue to request the early entrance process at an alternate timeline using the process below.

1. A family begins the process of early entrance consideration for their child by reaching out to their child’s residence school building.  The request will be directed to the building school psychologist, who will follow up with the family and explain the early entrance screening process.
2. An early entrance process letter and questionnaire will be sent to each family who has requested early entrance.
3. A family must complete and submit the early entrance questionnaire by the deadline indicated in their application packet.
4. The student will then be scheduled to attend a screening with a designed early entrance assessment team of a psychologist, an occupational therapist, and a speech and language pathologist.  Screening occurs in late April or early May of the school year prior to entry into kindergarten.
5. Children will be screened using a visual-motor assessment, language assessment, and brief cognitive assessment.  If a child scores at or above the 90th percentile for each of the three individual screening assessments, a full evaluation is scheduled.  Results from the early entrance screening will be sent to the student’s resident school for placement in their cumulative file.
6. A full evaluation for early entrance includes participation in a complete intellectual, academic, and social/emotional assessment.
7. For children meeting the above requirements, a team meeting at the student’s resident school is scheduled that includes the family, principal, school psychologist, and kindergarten teacher to discuss evaluation and social emotional rating scale results.  Final early entrance determinations are made by the Kindergarten Principal of the student’s resident building.
8. Children who meet early entrance requirements are admitted on a provisional basis.  A review meeting is held in the Fall, 4 – 6 weeks after school begins to discuss progress and make a final placement decision. Additional academic and/or behavior screening may be necessary to inform this decision.

A family who is dissatisfied with the principal’s decision regarding early entrance may appeal to the Superintendent.  The Superintendent’s decision shall be final. Appeals must be initiated within 30 days of receiving notice of the principal’s decision.  Failure to timely present the appeal shall be deemed to be a waiver of the appeal process.