JEB

AGE OF ENTRANCE

Every child between six and eighteen years of age shall attend the public school within the district or a public school outside the district to which he/she is assigned, or an approved private school, during all the time the public schools are in session, unless he/she has been excused from attending on the ground that his/her physical or mental condition is such as to prevent his/her attendance or to make it undesirable, provided that if a child reaches his/her sixth birthday after September 30 he/she will not be required to attend school under these provisions until the following school year.

A pupil may enter kindergarten if his/her chronological age will be five before September 30 of the year of entering school.

If parents feel a child is academically and socially ready and the birthday falls after September 30 and before December 1, the parent/guardian may request consideration for early admission. The written request and any supporting documentation will be reviewed by the school district administration. The administration shall require additional testing or other evaluation, using test instruments approved by the Rochester School Department, to determine the child's readiness level. This testing or evaluation shall be conducted by a School Psychologist licensed to practice in the state of New Hampshire and acceptable to the Rochester School Department. The cost of said testing or evaluation shall be borne by the parent(s). The administration will then formalize a recommendation as to the readiness of this child for early admission. The administrative recommendation will be presented to the Instruction Committee for its consideration at a hearing set up for the parents/guardians. A further appeal may be heard by the full School Board.

The testing or evaluation may be conducted by School Psychologists on the Rochester School Department staff, but must be conducted outside of their regular working hours. They shall determine their own fee structure. Administration may make parents aware of this policy provision, but shall take care not to pressure parents to use School Department staff for this testing or evaluation.

If a child's birthday falls beyond November 30, he/she will not be considered for early admission.

Incoming transfer students in kindergarten or first grade will be initially placed in accordance with the data forwarded by the sending district. Such placement is tentative and subject to reassignment by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee.

Adoption Date: July 9, 1992

Amended: May 8, 1997

Amended: December 8, 2011