Kenilworth School District 38 follows Illinois law which specifies that to enter kindergarten, children must be five years of age by September 1 of their kindergarten year and to enter first grade. Children must be six years of age by September 1 of their first-grade year (105 ILCS 5/10, Sec. 20-12). However, District 38's acceleration policy addresses exceptions to this law for children whose cognitive, academic, functional, and social-emotional potential and skills are in the superior range compared to their peers. 

Early entrance to kindergarten and first grade are recommended when it is determined to be the only viable option for meeting the needs of an advanced early learner. In other words, early entrance would only be recommended when the evaluation team feels that the instruction and differentiation available in the student’s age-appropriate grade level would not be able to effectively meet the student’s advanced needs.  

The decision for a child to enter school early or be accelerated into a higher grade level can profoundly impact their academic and social performance for the remainder of the child’s school career. It is a decision that needs to be taken very seriously. Academic readiness, academic potential, and social-emotional maturity are equally important considerations. Parents or guardians requesting early entrance should be aware that very few children screened meet the criteria to enter kindergarten or first grade early. 

While early entrance into kindergarten and first grade can be an effective option for whole-grade acceleration for students who meet the eligibility criteria, parents and guardians should carefully consider the following:

• The lack of information about how a student will perform in a formal school setting makes the decision more difficult
• The decision is very difficult to reverse if the child does not adapt to the acceleration as expected
• The decision has long-term consequences as well as potential impacts during the high school and college years 
• The physical development of students may impact their success. Four-year-olds may experience more fatigue and have less stamina than their peers. They may have less developed fine motor skills for tasks like cutting and writing.

District 38 utilizes a rigorous and challenging core curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of our academically talented population. Additionally, teachers differentiate instruction when students demonstrate mastery of grade-level content. 

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Pre-Requisites 

Pre-Requisites Early Entrance into Kindergarten

• Turns 5 between September 1 and December 31 of the school year in which early entrance is being considered 
• Student has attended a formal preschool program 
• Student resides within Kenilworth School District 38 boundaries
• Completion of the D38 Early Entrance Referral Form 

Pre-Requisites Early Entrance into First Grade

• Turns 6 between September 1 and December 31 of the school year in which early entrance is being considered 
• The student has attended a formal preschool and/or kindergarten program 
• Student resides within Kenilworth School District 38 boundaries
• Completion of the D38 Early Entrance Referral Form 

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Referral Process

The first step for early entrance consideration is for the Parent / Guardian, or other qualified individuals, to complete a D38 Early Entrance Referral Form by April 1 of the school year prior to the school year for which early entrance is sought. Referrals for Early Entrance will not be considered prior to April 1. 

The Referral Form has five sections:

1. Identifying Information
2. Previous School Experiences - Please be prepared to describe your child's previous school experiences and to upload any available previous preschool records 
3. Teacher Recommendation - Asks for a recommendation form to be completed by a current teacher
4. Parent Questionnaire - Asks questions about your child's development in seven broad developmental categories
5. Consent - Asks for your permission to contact your child's preschool teacher and to collect additional data as needed.

Once you have completed the Referral Form, please contact the front office to make an appointment to provide Proof of Residency if not currently enrolled at The Joseph Sears School. 847-256-5006

Within 30 school days after receiving a referral and a confirmed proof of residency, the Student Evaluation Team determines whether an evaluation for accelerated placement is warranted. The Director of Student Services gives the parent/guardian written notice of the referral outcome. For cases not warranting an evaluation, the process ends here. For cases warranting an evaluation, the evaluation proceeds with the steps below.
 

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Evaluation Process

The Student Evaluation Team conducts the assessment, which includes a review of records, parent and teacher input, testing in the areas of achievement and aptitude, and possible observations of the student in their current school setting. The student evaluation team includes the Director of Student Services, Building Administrator, Age Appropriate Teacher representative(s), School Psychologist, Social Worker, and other team members as deemed necessary (e.g., English Learner teacher). Time for the student to participate in testing is scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time. One or two testing sessions may be scheduled. The district will also complete a language screener to determine English proficiency for students who speak a second language or have a second language spoken in the home. The results of this assessment may alter the assessment steps described below.

The following assessment process will be used to determine eligibility for Early Entrance to kindergarten and first grade:

Step 1: Developmental Assessment 
The child’s parent/guardian and current preschool/kindergarten teacher will complete a norm-referenced questionnaire. National norms will be used to determine the following:

• At or below the 89th percentile = 0 points (testing discontinues)
• Between the 90th and 94th percentiles = 1 point 
• At or above the 95th percentile = 2 points 

Step 2: Achievement Testing 
The school will conduct an assessment of the child’s academic skills. The district does not accept private evaluations of achievement. National norms of the grade level desired will be used to determine the following:

• At or below the 89th percentile = 0 points (testing discontinues)
• Between the 90th and 94th percentiles = 1 point 
• At or above the 95th percentile = 2 points 

Step 3: Ability Testing
The school will conduct an assessment of the child’s cognitive ability. The district does not accept private evaluations of cognitive ability. National norms using the child’s current age will be used to determine the following: 

• Below 1 standard deviation above the mean (114 or below) = 0 points (testing discontinues)
• Between 1 and 2 standard deviations above the mean (115 - 129) = 1 point
• Between 2 and 3 standard deviations above the mean (130 - 144) = 2 points
• Three or more standard deviations above the mean (145 and above) = 3 points

Step 4: Additional Data as Needed
The district will gather additional information as needed, such as an observation of the student in their current school setting, collecting a writing sample from the student, etc.
 

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Placement Recommendation

The Student Evaluation team will review all data collected and information provided to decide eligibility for early entrance into kindergarten or first grade. The following guidelines will be considered when making this recommendation: 

• 0 - 2 points: Child is not a candidate for Early Entrance 
• 3 - 5 points: Child is a potential candidate for Early Entrance 
• 6 - 7 points: Child is a strong candidate for Early Entrance 

Representatives from the Student Evaluation Team will meet with the parent/guardian of the student to review the assessment results and communicate the decision. Written notice of the eligibility determination will be provided. If the recommendation is made to accelerate the student and have the student enter kindergarten or first grade early, a plan will be made with the parent/guardian to identify strategies to support the student in the accelerated placement and to review the effectiveness of the placement within the first three months of school. 

If the Student Evaluation Team recommends not allowing the student to enter kindergarten or first grade early, the parent(s)/guardian(s) may appeal the decision within 10 calendar days after receiving the determination by submitting a written request to the Superintendent. Within 30 calendar days of receiving the written appeal request, the Superintendent will review the case and provide the parent(s)/guardian(s) with written notice of their decision. The Superintendent’s decision is final.