Ages of Entrance - 3110P

To be admitted to a kindergarten program that commences in the fall of the year, a child must be five (5) years of age as of midnight, August 31, of the year of entry.

To be admitted to a first grade program that commences in the fall of the year, a child must be six (6) years of age as of midnight, August 31, to enroll in the first grade.

Parents are required to submit a birth certificate, hospital certificate signed by the attending physician, or passport. 

Exemptions to the Uniform Entrance Policy for kindergarten are:

1. Families interested in having a student assessed for early entry may have an outside agency/professional complete an assessment battery of school readiness in the areas of: mental ability, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, visual discrimination, auditory discrimination, and emotional/social development. (See WAC 392-335-025, Local option exceptions to uniform entry qualifications).  The parent is responsible for all fees.
2. The evaluation scores and analysis must be received from the parent in the Student Support Services Department no later than August 15 of the year of entry to be considered.  The qualifying score in each area is at least 5 years, 6 months age equivalent for placement as a kindergarten student.
3. Students who reside within the Federal Way School District, and whose families, due to their low income, would have difficulty paying for the required assessments, may apply to the district for a waiver from paying for the assessments.  To obtain a waiver, families would have to qualify under free and/or reduced price lunch guidelines.  Families who qualify under reduced price standards will be charged a $15.00 co-payment, with the district assuming the remainder of the cost of the assessments. The district will assume the full cost of the assessments for families who qualify according to free lunch guidelines.
4. Children who qualify with at least 5 years, 6 months age equivalent in each assessment area may be enrolled for a thirty (30) calendar day evaluation period during which the kindergarten teacher and principal shall observe the child with consultation of the school psychologist and make a final determination for continuation.  It is strongly recommended that the principal and/or teacher make a weekly report to the parent on the child’s adjustment and progress.  If it is recommended that the child’s enrollment be discontinued in the kindergarten program, the principal, teacher and parents will meet to inform the parents of the basis for the decision.  The recommendation will then be formalized in writing.

Exemptions for Uniform Entrance Policy for First Grade are:

1. Parents of children not eligible to enter first grade because their sixth (6) birthday falls after August 31, may request from the superintendent’s designee, and/or the elementary school principal, a Form 5111 to waive the state age requirement based upon successful completion of kindergarten in a program which substantially equals or exceeds the basic education requirements of WAC 180-16-200 through 180-16-220. The completed Form 5111 must be received no later than August 15 of the year of entry.
2. When the principal receives the EARLY ENTRY TO FIRST GRADE FORM 5111, signed by the principal of the kindergarten attended, the child may be enrolled for a thirty (30) calendar day evaluation period.
3. After the thirty (30) calendar day evaluation period, the principal, teacher and psychologist shall recommend the continuation in the first grade or appropriate grade level placement.

The Federal Way Public Schools reserves the right to consider alternative placement at any time during the school year if it is believed the child’s rate of learning, accelerate/decelerate causing potential harm to the child or the learning environment.

Date:     6/10/08