Early Entrance to Kindergarten and First Grade
There is an Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) policy for students (MMSD residents only) to enter kindergarten and first grade early, based on the required birthdate of September 1, by meeting specific criteria. Please see the Board policy for more information. Board of Education Policy 4011
Parents/guardians of MMSD students who seek early entrance into five-year-old kindergarten or first grade for their child/student must complete the Early Entrance to Kindergarten Application (English)/Early Entrance to Kindergarten Application (Spanish) or Early Entrance into First Grade Application (English)/Early Entrance into First Grade (Spanish) and submit the form, as well as required supporting documents, directly to early.learning@madison.k12.wi.us. Parents/guardians who are completing the application through their home school, can ask school staff to forward the completed forms to the Department of Early Learning. Applications are processed and approved through the Department of Early Learning only.
Assessment of students is specific to each grade level and the need for completion of assessments is determined by MMSD staff early entrance authority. See details below.
Early Entrance into 5 Year Old Kindergarten
As the Board policy indicates, children must be five years of age on or before September 1 to attend five-year-old kindergarten. The only exceptions are:
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Students who have completed a formal four-year-old kindergarten program that is a Department of Public Instruction (DPI) recognized public, private, or parochial program, with a Kindergarten state licensed teacher, and a 4K-5th grade or 4K-8th grade continuum of curriculum where a formal records request can be submitted. Applications that indicate a child was 3 years old in a mixed age classroom does not qualify as completing a formal 4K program. The child was not enrolled as a 4 year old in a DPI public, private or parochial school program, with a Kindergarten state licensed teacher. There is a difference between a 3 year old year and a 4 year old in mixed age classrooms/programs. Please read the following information for details of the requirements for this exception.
Assessment for Early Entrance to Kindergarten (OPTIONAL AND ONLY for students with a birthday between September 2 and October 15)
Assessments are completed for children who meet the criteria of turning five years old on or between September 2 and October 15 only, unless otherwise determined by the MMSD staff early entrance authority.
Assessment is optional for students who meet the birthday criteria; it is not required. It is offered to families as another piece of information about the student.
- Requests for assessment received by May 15 will be performed by the school psychologist in your attendance area school.
- Requests for assessment received between May 16 and August 1 will be performed after August 1. You will be contacted over the summer to schedule an appointment with a district psychologist.
No assessments are conducted when school is not in session except through this process.
Early Entrance into First Grade:
As the Board policy indicates, children must be six years of age on or before September 1 AND have successfully completed a five-year-old kindergarten to enroll in first grade. For students born after September 1, the only exceptions are:
- Students who were admitted into first grade in another public school district prior to moving into the Madison Metropolitan School District. Applicants must provide verification of enrollment and actual attendance in first grade.
- Students who attended AND successfully completed a five-year-old kindergarten program. Applicants must provide verification of enrollment in a five-year-old kindergarten program and an end-of-the-year report card from the previous school showing successful completion.
For students born on or before September 1 but who have not completed a five-year-old-kindergarten program, the only exceptions are:
- Students who have moved from another state where there is not a prerequisite to complete a five-year-old kindergarten. Applicants must provide verification of residence in former state - a utility bill, or copy of lease or mortgage.
- Students who were exempted from a five-year-old kindergarten program from another state. Applicants must provide official documentation of the exemption.
- Students who attended AND successfully completed a five-year-old kindergarten program at a private school or licensed day care center that MMSD deems equivalent to a public school five-year-old kindergarten program. Applicants must provide verification of enrollment in a five-year-old kindergarten program and an end-of-the-year report card from the previous school showing successful completion.
- Students who demonstrate satisfactory completion of a preliminary student assessment using a standardized assessment.
Assessment:
(Students who are 6 years of age on or before September 1, but have not completed a five-year-old kindergarten, are the only students who will be eligible for an assessment for eligible for assessment.)
- Requests for assessment received by May 15 will be performed by the school psychologist in your attendance area school.
- Requests for assessment received between May 16 and August 1 will be performed after August 1. You will be contacted over the summer to schedule an appointment with a district psychologist.
- No assessments are conducted when school is not in session except through this process.
If you have questions about early entrance, please call 663-5211 or email early.learning@madison.k12.wi.us.