To meet criteria for early entrance the child must be considered Gifted with Superior Cognitive Ability using an approved individual standardized intelligence test administered by a licensed or certified school psychologist or licensed psychologist. The child must score two standard deviations above the mean, minus the standard error of measurement to move forward in the Early Entrance Evaluation process.  This means the child must have a score of 127 (+/- 3) to meet criteria.  This requirement indicates the child has performed as well or better than about 98% of same age peers. If the child meets this threshold, then further assessment will be administered using The Iowa Acceleration Scale, 3rd Edition.  

The South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools’ Board of Education states that “a child is eligible for kindergarten if he/she attains the age of five (5) on or before September 30th of the coming school year.”

•    On or before September 30th?  If your child turns 5 on or before September 30th, he or she is eligible for kindergarten.  There is no need to request Early Entrance.

•    Between October 1st and December 31st?  The South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools uses a process and objective criteria to determine if Early Entrance is an appropriate placement for your child. *Early entrance should only be requested if you feel your child is cognitively gifted, academically ready, and developmentally mature.        

•    Jan 1st or later?  If your child has a birthday on or after January 1st, the school will use the Iowa Acceleration Scale to evaluate him or her for Early Entrance. *Early entrance should only be requested if you feel your child is cognitively gifted, academically ready, and developmentally mature.                                                                                                                                   

Early entrance is designed for the exceptional child who is both academically ready as well as developmentally mature when compared to others his or her chronological age. Some children may appear exceptional simply because of their access to opportunities (i.e., preschool programs, parents working with them on skills, or access to learning materials). Early entrance is designed for the child who has high ability and easily achieves when presented with new material.

Some considerations when determining if early entrance is right for a child:
•    Is my child capable of working in a classroom setting with children who are one year older than he/she?
•    Will my child be frustrated by this placement?
•  What are the possible long-term impacts as my child progresses through elementary, middle, and high school (i.e., beginning college at a younger age)?
•    Not designed as a replacement for childcare. Is this a need or a want?
•    Do I understand the expectations for students in kindergarten today?

What is Expected of Students in Kindergarten?
Kindergarten has changed considerably over the last several years. Today’s kindergarten students are engaged in a rigorous instructional program. Educational standards help teachers ensure their students have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful by providing clear goals for student learning. Parents can access the Ohio Learning Standards for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies at the following website:
https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Learning-in-Ohio/OLS-Graphic-Sections/Learning-Standards

It is important to note that very few children who are assessed for early entrance to kindergarten meet the criteria and qualify. Parents and/or guardians should have a contingency plan should the child not meet the criteria for early entrance to kindergarten.