BOARD POLICY 5111.9

First Grade Admission

A.       No student will be admitted to first grade unless he/she has successfully completed kindergarten, and will be six (6) years of age on or before August 1, except as provided in paragraph C below.

B.       “Successfully completed kindergarten” means that the child has completed the kindergarten requirements as one of the following:

1.       a public or chartered nonpublic school

2.       a kindergarten class that is both the following:

a.        offered by a day care provider licensed under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5104;

b.        is directly taught by a teacher who holds a valid certificate issued under Ohio Revised Code Section 3319.22 (A); or montessori preprimary credential or age appropriate diploma granted by the American Montessori Society or the Association Montessori Internationale; or a certification of equivalency to Montessori credential;

c.        determined by the Ohio Department of Education to be equivalent to requirements of O.R.C. Section 3321.01 (B)  (2) (b) (ii).

C.    Upon the request of a parent, the requirement of paragraph A above may be waived by the Ironton City School District in the case of a child who is at least six (6) years of age by August 1 of the year in which admittance is requested and who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Committee that he/she possess the social, emotional, and cognitive skills necessary for first grade.

D.   The Board herewith establishes the District Personnel Services Committee which shall be composed of the following personnel employed by the Ironton City Board of Education:

1.       an elementary principal;

2.        the school counselor;

3.        a school psychologist;

4.        a teacher assigned to teach first grade; and

5.        the Assistant Superintendent.

E.     The Committee shall have no other authority except the issuance of waivers allowing admittance to the first grade without successful completion of kindergarten.

F.     The kindergarten classes provided under this policy shall be developmentally appropriate.  The scheduling of times for classes and length of the school day for kindergarten shall be determined by the Ironton City Board of Education.

Legal Reference   O.R.C.  Section  3321.01

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