Early Kindergarten Entry Screening
The Mount Vernon School District is scheduling appointments for screening for entry to kindergarten for children who turn five years old after August 31.

If your child turns 5 years old between September 1 and October 15 and you feel s/he is ready for kindergarten, you must call the Special Services office at 428-6141 by June 1 of this year to make arrangements for the required testing procedures.

If your child turns 5 years old by August 31st then s/he is able to attend kindergarten next school year without a screening and you should call your area elementary school to get information about registering your child.

Go to the Special and Support Services Office (920 S. 2nd Street) to pay the $50 screening/assessment fee. If you feel you qualify for free or reduced lunch, then complete the free or reduced lunch form. If you do qualify then the fee will be waived.  The $50 fee will only be refunded if the parent chooses to terminate the screening process BEFORE the psychologist begins the student's assessment.

At that time, you will be asked to provide a copy of your child's birth certificate and to fill out a simple application. The screening appointment will be scheduled for sometime during the last two weeks of August.

The screening will be done by a school psychologist. It will cover areas such as motor and language development, cognitive skills, and social development. Be prepared to have your child work alone with the psychologist. You are welcome to be in the waiting area of the Special Services office.

After the screening the school psychologist will contact the principal of your neighborhood elementary school. The principal will schedule a meeting with you, the kindergarten teacher, the school psychologist, and him or herself to explain the results and indicate whether or not your child may enter kindergarten.

If your child enters kindergarten, it is for a 30-day evaluation period. After 30 days the principal may determine if your child is being successful in the classroom or if it is in his/her best interest to re-enroll in kindergarten the following year.

All of the above only applies if there is space available in the Kindergarten class.

Procedures for early kindergarten entry screening

1. Parents whose children turn five years old AFTER August 31, 2007, but before October 15 of the school year will call the special services office by June 1 of the preceding school year. 
   
   Example – John Smith turns five on September 29 of the 2007/08 school year and wants to enter Kindergarten for the 2007/08 school year. His parent must call the district no later than June 1, 2007, in order to be considered eligible for the early kindergarten entrance process.
   
   
2. Parents will be directed to submit the $50 fee (waived if they qualify for free or reduced lunch; determined by completion of the form) to the MVSD Special and Support Services office along with a copy of the child's birth certificate. They will be given a receipt as proof of payment and will be required to fill out an application form on behalf of their child. 
   
   At that time, the child's name will be placed on a list for late August 2007 scheduling of a screening appointment with the school psychologist assigned to his/her home school. The $50 fee will only be refunded if the parent chooses to terminate the screening process BEFORE the psychologist begins the student's assessment.
   
   
3. Appointments will be made for the 3rd and 4th weeks of August. The district's school psychologists will conduct testing.
   
   
4. The school psychologist will provide the results to the building principal, with a brief explanation of whether or not the psychologist recommends early entry.
   
   
5. The principal will schedule a meeting with the parent, psychologist, and kindergarten teacher to decide whether the child will be granted a conditional early entry.
   
   
6. If a student is granted a conditional early entry, this will be for the first 30 days of the school year. After that time, the principal may recommend to the parent that it is not in the student's best interest to continue in kindergarten for the remainder of the school year.

All of the above only applies if there is space available in the Kindergarten class.