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Policy JEB

Entrance Age

  1. To enter kindergarten, a child must be five years of age on or before October 15th of the  school year of admission. To enter grade one, a child must be six years of age on or  before October 15th of the school year of admission.  

  1. Children who have not attained their sixth birthday on or before October 15th, but who  have attended public kindergarten in another state and have been promoted to grade one  or who are attending grade one in another state, may be placed in grade one upon being  transferred to the South Portland School System.  

  1. It is recognized that exceptions to this initial placement may be justified under limited  circumstances as is acceleration at any grade level. In such rare cases, enrolling five year  old students may be placed in first grade at the discretion of school officials in  accordance with the following:  

  • Social and emotional maturity should have been documented such as to predict  success in grade one; documentation will include recommendations by pre-school  teachers, parent recommendations and pre-school testing as determined by the  school principal.  

  • The decision of placement lies with the principal and an advisory committee at  the school.  

  • The school reserves the right to administer testing as appropriate to make a proper  determination of placement.  

  • Any such placement is to be conditioned upon demonstrated success and  reviewed at appropriate intervals, and  

  • All exceptional placements are to be reported to the Superintendent  F. Any parent who disagrees with the decision of the advisory committee may  appeal the decision to the Superintendent whose decision shall be final.  

  • Schools shall require birth certificates, within 60 days of enrollment, of all children  whose records do not show a certified date of birth. Only an official record of birth shall  be acceptable.  

Legal Reference: Title 20A MRSA Sec. 5201.02  

Cross Reference: IKE Promotion, Retention and Acceleration of Students  Revised: June 12, 1978  

Revised: June 14, 1995  

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