Number: 201
Section: Pupils
Title: Admission of Beginners
Date Adopted: May 14, 1979
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2004
Purpose
The Board shall establish age requirements for the admission of beginners which are consistent with statute and sound educational practice and which insure the equitable treatment of all eligible children.

Authority
1. Beginners
Beginners are children entering the lowest grade of the primary school above the kindergarten level. In Upper Moreland, beginners are children entering 1st grade.
Beginners shall be admitted to school only during the first two weeks of the annual school term unless they transfer from a state approved 1st grade program. However, a child who is eight years of age may begin school at any time during the school year.
To be eligible for admission to grade 1, a beginner must be six years of age on or before January 31st.
The Board may, on the written request of the parent or guardian, admit as a beginner a child whose chronological age is not less than five years as of the first day of school when so recommended by the school psychologist and approved by the Superintendent or designee.

2. Kindergarten
Entrance to kindergarten is limited to those children who have attained an age of five years on or before September 30th of that academic year.

a. Kindergarten children will attend half-day sessions.
b. Kindergarten children will be assigned to either a morning or afternoon session depending on class size, and the availability of transportation.

Requests of parents or legal guardian for changes of children from the assigned session to another may be granted by the district Superintendent or designee under the following conditions:

  1. The principals recommend the change and the average kindergarten class size is maintained, or
  2. That there are extenuating circumstances so deemed by the district Superintendent or designee.
  3. The parents or legal guardian provides transportation for the student if there is no district transportation in the area.

Delegation of Responsibility
The Superintendent shall require the following for each child being registered for entrance to school and exhibit:

  1. birth certificate.
  2. immunization records and health history.
  3. proof of residence.
  4. if a transfer, all previous school records.
  5. the accommodations needed for disabilities.
  6. home language survey.
  7. parental registration statement (weapons, drugs, alcohol & violence disclaimer).