Salt Creek School District 48

Early Entrance: Salt Creek D48 complies with Illinois law, which specifies that to enter kindergarten or first grade, children must be five years of age by September 1st of their kindergarten year or six years of age by September 1st of their first-grade year [105 ILCS 5/10-20.12]. Early entrance is considered a form of whole grade acceleration and is appropriate only for those students who demonstrate compelling evidence that they are intellectually advanced and socially developmentally appropriate. After careful examination of relevant evidence provided by the parents or gathered through a district evaluation process, the Salt Creek D48 team will make the decision. 

After reviewing the information, if you have questions about the Early Entrance process, please contact the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at 630-279-8400 x1012.

Considerations: Salt Creek D48 understands that students whose birthdate misses the cutoff for school attendance may have educational needs or demonstrated capabilities that warrant early admission to kindergarten or first grade. The decisions for a child to enter school early can profoundly affect his or her academic and social performance for the remainder of the child’s school career. Academic readiness, academic potential, and social-emotional maturity are all equally important considerations.

Early Entrance Kindergarten Criteria

• Turn five years old by December 1st of the proposed kindergarten year.

• Have completed at least one year of preschool

• Be exceptionally advanced intellectually and typically developing socially.

Early Entrance First Grade Criteria

• Turn six years old by December 1st of the proposed first grade year.

• Completed at least one year of kindergarten 

• Be exceptionally advanced intellectually and typically developing socially.

Process: Parents/guardians wishing to apply for early entrance to kindergarten or first grade should submit the following information to the Director of Curriculum and Instruction by April 1.

• Completed Early Entrance referral form

• Signed and completed Consent to Release Information authorizing Salt Creek D48 to exchange information with child’s preschool

• Completed Parent Questionnaire

• Progress Reports or other records, evidence, or assessments from the child’s preschool program that demonstrate academic advancement

• Based on a review of records, if the child is eligible for additional testing, the parent/guardian will be contacted by the District 48 school psychologist to schedule.

• The child must score within the very superior range of intelligence as measured by an individual test of cognitive ability (CogAT) administered by the D48 school psychologist.

• If the child scores in the superior range on CogAT, a MAP test will be administered to see how the child performs on the spring assessment.

• The BASC will also be administered to evaluate the child’s behavioral and emotional development. 

• After testing has been completed, the D48 school psychologist will contact the parent with a decision on the child’s eligibility for early entrance into kindergarten or first grade.

If you have any questions about the Early Entrance process, please contact the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at 630-279-8400 x1012.