16 NCAC 06E .0105 EARLY ADMISSION TO KINDERGARTEN

(a) A child who turns four years old on or before April 16 may be admitted to Kindergarten for the following school year pursuant to G.S. 115C-364(d) if the principal, after conferring with a committee of professional educators, determines at the student meets the following requirements:

(1) Student Aptitude. The child is functioning at a level two to three years beyond peers of the same age in academic and social development and has scored at or above the 98th percentile on a standard individual test of intelligence such as:

(A) The Stanford-Binet;

(B) The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence;

(D) Any other comparable test administered by a licensed psychologist.

(2) Achievement. The child is functioning at a level two to three years beyond peers of the same age. The child shall score at the 98th percentile on either reading or mathematics on a standard test of achievement such as:

(A) The Metropolitan Readiness Test;

(B) The Stanford Early School Achievement Test;

(D) The Woodcock-Johnson;

(E) The Test of Early Mathematics Ability ("TEMA");

(F) The Test of Early Reading Ability ("TERA"); or

(G) Any other comparable test administered by a licensed psychologist, a member of the psychologist's professional staff, or a professional educator who is trained in the use of the instrument and who has no conflict of interest in the outcome of the assessment.

(3) Performance. The child is able to perform tasks well above peers of the same age, as evidenced by behaviors in areas such as independent reading, problem solving skills, advanced vocabulary, and some writing fluency. The parents shall submit a sample of the child's work that shows outstanding ability in any area including art, mathematics, writing, dramatic play, creative productions, science, or social interactions. The principal may also require a teacher to complete an informal reading assessment of the child.

(4) Observable Student Behavior/Student Interest. The child demonstrates social and developmental maturity sufficient to participate in a structured setting for a full school day. The child shall be capable of following verbal instructions and functioning independently within a group. The parent shall provide two recommendation letters with specific documentation of physical and social maturity from preschool teachers, child care workers, pediatricians, or others who have direct knowledge of the child. Other useful documentation includes the child's performance on the California Preschool Competency Scale, the Teacher's Observation of Potential in Students ("TOPS") Scale, or any other comparable scale of early social development.

(5) Motivation/Student Interest. The principal or principal's designee shall conduct an informal interview with the child and a more structured interview with the parent to determine if the child displays a desire for knowledge and seeks new and challenging learning situations.

(b) The parent or legal guardian of the child shall present all evidence in support of their child's early entry into Kindergarten to the principal within the first 30 calendar days of the school's instructional year. All testing shall be administered at the parent's or legal guardian's expense after the April 16th that follows the child's fourth birthday.

(c) The principal shall decide whether to grant the request for enrollment within three weeks after receiving the evidence provided by the parent or legal guardian. The principal may conditionally enroll the child for up to 90 days to observe whether the child is able to adjust to the school setting. If the principal determines that the child has not adjusted to the school setting, the principal shall deny the request for enrollment.

(d) Before removing the child from school, the principal shall invite the parent or legal guardian to assist in the development of intervention strategies for the child. If those strategies are not successful, the principal shall provide the parent or legal guardian at least 10 days' notice before removing the child from school.

(e) Nothing in this Rule shall preclude a local board of education from adopting policies that require a parent or legal guardian to provide additional information beyond the requirements of this Rule, including results of other standardized tests or measures related to the child's giftedness or maturity.

(f) After the child has been enrolled for 90 calendar days, or at any earlier time that the principal has determined that the child has adjusted and shall be allowed to remain in school, the local school administrative unit shall review the child's information to determine if the child shall receive services for academically or intellectually gifted students in accordance with the local plan developed under G.S. 115C-150.9.

History Note: Authority G.S. 115-150.6; 115C-364(d);

Temporary Adoption Eff. August 18, 1997;

Eff. March 15, 1999;

Readoption Eff. August 1, 2026.