The Board of Education shall establish entrance age requirements for students which are consistent with statute and sound educational practice and which ensure the equitable treatment of all eligible children.

A child is eligible for entrance into preschool if s/he attains the age of four (4) on or before August 31st of the year in which s/he applies for entrance and has not yet attained the age at which s/he will be admitted to kindergarten.

A child is eligible for entrance into kindergarten if s/he attains the age of five on or before August 31st of the year in which s/he applies for entrance. A child under age six (6) who is enrolled in kindergarten will be considered of compulsory school age.

The Board may admit to kindergarten such children as may be ineligible by reason of age but demonstrate the ability and need to undertake a program of education.

The Board designates the following necessary standards and testing programs required for such early admission.

The child will be individually assessed by a school psychologist to determine if s/he is mature enough mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically to participate successfully in the kindergarten program. If the child's initial test performance suggests potential eligibility for gifted education, such child achieving at this level will be referred for an additional evaluation of individual intelligence. Specific tests selected by the psychologist for administration must be approved by the Roane County Office of Special Education.

A child entering school for the first time must show authentic proof of birth date (such as presenting a certified birth certificate), and written verification of immunizations.

August 10th will be the final date for accepting applications requesting advanced entrance into kindergarten.

Notwithstanding the previous provisions of this policy, if space is still available in a particular Roane County school kindergarten program after the placement of:

In summary, additional students may be considered for kindergarten placement who will be five (5) years old between September 1st and the last day of the 2nd school calendar month in mid-October, and exhibit "no developmental delays on appropriate tests selected by the Roane County Schools Department of Special Education." This implies that potential students "possess the intellectual and social maturity to perform acceptably in kindergarten." Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified of their child's eligibility by the principal, during the week following kindergarten students' first week of attendance.

The Board will admit to kindergarten any child who has not attained the entrance age requirement of this County, but who was properly enrolled in an approved public school kindergarten before transferring to this County.

There will be a four (4) week trial period at the beginning of the school year when early entrance students will be carefully observed by the teacher.

A child may be removed from a kindergarten program when the principal, teacher and parent or guardian concur that the best interest of the child would not be served by requiring further attendance, and the principal shall make the final determination with regard to compulsory school attendance in kindergarten (WV Code 18-8-1a). The removed child should be enrolled in kindergarten the following year to fulfill the requirements of state law.

A child is eligible for entrance into first grade if s/he attains the age of six (6) on or before August 31st of the year in which s/he applies for entrance and has completed the kindergarten program of this County or an equivalent program elsewhere and has been recommended by the teacher for advancement to the first grade. This requirement may only be waived if a request is made and approved by the County's Pupil Personnel Services Committee.

The Superintendent shall require that each child who registers for entrance to school provide:

If such documents are not provided, the child may be admitted under the Superintendent's guidelines. Appropriate law enforcement authorities may be notified.

The Superintendent shall also ensure that each child entering the County's school system for the first time has been properly screened for hearing, vision, speech and language disabilities and have age appropriate immunizations as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics and recommended by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. If documentation of the screenings for hearing, vision, and speech and language disabilities is not provided by the parents/guardians of the student, such screening shall be conducted by the County.

Any parent may provide the County with a written statement indicating that s/he does not wish to have his/her child screened.

West Virginia Code 18-5-17, 18-5-18
West Virginia Board of Education Policy 2525

Revised 9/16/08