B.H.
We're in the Burnsville dist.191 and here's there policy with kindergarten. (kinda long)
Early Admittance to Kindergarten
Initial admission to kindergarten shall be solely on the basis of chronological age, except in special cases. The goal of this policy is to give consideration for early entrance to children who have missed the birth date cut-off by two months or less (September 2 through October 31), and who demonstrate superior potential readiness in intellectual, social, emotional and physical areas.
In cases where parents request early admission to kindergarten, the procedure will be as follows:
A written request shall be submitted to the building principal by the parent(s), stating the reason(s) why the parent(s) feel early admission is in the best education interest of their child.
If the building principal determines that the circumstances are worthy of consideration, the parent(s) will be requested to complete and return the early admission application form and questionnaire to the principal of the elementary school in their attendance area.
Upon receipt of the application form and questionnaire, the principal will arrange an interview with parent(s) and child to discuss the pros and cons of early entrance. Applications must be submitted by May 1st.
On the basis of the principal's observations during the interview, the principal will recommend (1) that it is best for the child not to be considered for early entrance or (2) that the child be referred for further evaluation by a licensed school psychologist not employed by this district, and will be tested in the areas of school readiness, intellectual ability and fine and gross motor skills, the cost of which shall be borne by the parents. A copy of this administrative regulation will be sent to the examining psychologist.
The licensed school psychologist's report will be sent to the Director of Individualized Student Services for review. Based on this report and the principal's recommendation, this school officer will determine admittance or rejection and will notify the parent(s) and the building principal of the decision at least one week prior to the start of school.
All early entrance placements will be considered trial placements.
During the first quarter, a school psychologist will conduct a classroom observation and meet with the principal and the classroom teacher to consider appropriateness of the placement.
In the event that it is determined that the child is misplaced, the building principal will meet with the parent(s) and appropriate staff to determine the course of action.
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I grew up in Illinois in a suburb out of Chicago. I have been to and seen horrible schools. I didn't even have a playground at my elementry school yet lived in a brand new huge house and had was raised middle/upper class but because of boundaries got sent to the ghetto for school. I have horror stories...
Now in MN I think this state has awesome schools. I've never heard of a bad school here. Sure there are problems and things people don't like but really the school system here is great.
My daughter's birthday is 8/29/01 tomorrow she will be 6. I sent her to school last year, she seemed academically ready and very very socially ready. She did just fine, but was always the shortest, always the youngest, had to try a little harder. I sorta regret sending her. Sending her last year or sending her this year both had pro's and con's one year was not really better than the other year to send her. She is turning 6 tomorrow whereas everyone else is in her grade is getting ready to turn7. They have all lost teeth wheras my child is not anywhere close to loosing her teeth it's just the little stuff like that. Send her at 5 and challenge her, or send her at6 and let her be bored? I can't imagine have kept her home last year though she would have been bored and preschool wouldn't have been enough.
As far as private or public. I swore I would never send my child to a private school. I know to many adults that were sent to private school's and rebelled horribly or had a hard time fitting in when they went to highschool. I'm all about having my child socially adapted to world around her. Sooner or later they need this. Private schools seem to have a certain type of crowd, religous, or wealthy, etc.Your kinda secluded at a private school. Your confining your child to one type of lifestyle or one type of living. In public schools they see everything and learn to adapt to everything that comes there way. Now it can be a good thing in some circumstances. I went to a public school growing up where I was a minority being white and had alot of rough times and it would have been better to put me in private school.
MN has alot of great Magnet school's too. Where the school is public but concentrates on one area of learning like art or science but they still get all there other subjects in too.
Then there are language immersion school's. Some districts have these where they teach all subjects in soley spanish or french etc. Your child becomes bilingual and still learns all of their subjects. These are usually free public school's also.