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Early Kindergarten 4 and 5 Year Olds

  Early Kindergarten

Purpose

To create opportunities for our 4 and 5 year old students, removing barriers and giving equitable access to early kindergarten education. These programs are designed to provide kindergarten level instruction, with a focus on learning school routine, using a more play based approach; thus helping students prepare for the expectations of full day kindergarten the following year.

Who

5 Year Olds

May 1, 2018 - September 10, 2018 - will be screened for placement of Early K or K

4 Year Olds

After September 10, 2018 - Only eligible for Early K. Four-year olds will be accepted if they meet four-year-old criteria listed below and if room is available once five-year olds have been accepted. During registration, all four year olds will be put on a waiting lists. Applicants will be prioritized oldest to youngest.

Additional Criteria Specific to 4 Year Olds:

  • Birthdays that fall on or before September 10, 2019

  • Live within Kalispell Elementary School District boundaries 

  • Consideration for first come first serve enrollment

  • Priority will be given to children whose families are eligible for free or reduced price school meals.

 

Eligibility & Screening Process

The District looks at a variety of factors when determining who would best be served in early kindergarten programming, including: age of child, feedback from parents and teachers, as well as results from the Developmental Indicators for Assessment of Learning (DIAL) tool. The Dial is an assessment instrument the District uses to help screen students for programs they may best benefit from (kindergarten, early kindergarten or other early childhood programs). The DIAL screening results also help to identify young children at the lower end of the developmental continuum of skills who may be in need of early intervention services. Only students whose birthdays fall between May 1, 2018 - September 10, 2018 will be screened.

 

Seats Available

Each classroom will have a maximum of 18 spots for early kindergarten qualifiers.  

 

Host Sight

To be Determined

 

Communication

Parents should expect to hear from their neighborhood school no later than June 30th. Results of the DIAL will be shared with the receiving school team (principal, teacher, instructional coach). If results indicate specific student needs, the child will be flagged for our Systems of Support (SOS) process to be initiated at the start of the school year.