JEB
ENTRANCE  AGE  REQUIREMENTS

Pre-kindergarten  Special  Services

A child evaluated and recommended for special services for a disability who has reached the third (3rd) birthday may be admitted to the District's pre-kindergarten program.  If otherwise eligible, the District may admit a child who is within ninety (90) days of reaching age three (3) years if it is determined to be in the best interest of the child.  The Superintendent shall make such determination based upon consultation with parent(s)/guardian(s) and the multidisciplinary placement team.

Kindergarten  and  First  Grade

For admission to kindergarten, children must be five (5) years of age prior to September 1 of the current school year.  Kindergarten is a half day program funded by the state.  That half day program is complemented by an optional half day, fee-based program called Kindergarten Plus for parents/legal guardians who want a full day experience for their child(ren).  Both the half and full day options provide academically meaningful instruction in the academic standards adopted by the Arizona State Board of Education.

If coming from another state where the kindergarten entrance age for public schooling is a birth date after September 1, and the student has successfully completed a kindergarten program, he/she may be permitted to enter first grade.  The determination of whether to admit shall be based on consultation with the parent(s)/guardian(s), the teacher, and/or the school principal.

If a student attends another Arizona public school where he/she was admitted to kindergarten prior to reaching five (5) years of age before September 1 and successfully completed that kindergarten program, he/she may be permitted to enter first grade.  The determination of whether to admit shall be based on consultation with the parent(s)/guardian(s), the teacher, and/or the school principal.  But the student will not be allowed to repeat kindergarten since Arizona does not fund a second kindergarten year when a child has entered kindergarten early.

If the school district offers more than two and one-half (2 1/2) hours of voluntary tuition free kindergarten instruction during a school day to pupils who are under six (6) years of age, the instruction shall meet all of the following requirements:

A.  Meet or exceed the academic standards for kindergarten instruction prescribed by the State Board of Education and incorporate play as an instructional strategy.

B.  Be academically meaningful.

C.  Provide active learning enrichment.

If a tuition free full day Kindergarten is offered, a parent/legal guardian of a kindergarten student may choose either half (1/2) day or full day kindergarten instruction pursuant to A.R.S. 15-703.

Children who are six (6) years of age, prior to September 1 of the current school year may be admitted to first grade.

High  School

A high school graduate with a recognized diploma may be refused admission.

Students between the ages of sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21) years shall be admitted to high school.  A student under sixteen (16) years of age who does not hold an eighth-grade certificate of promotion or other evidence of promotion such as an official transcript or report card, may be admitted to high school under the following conditions:

The student must meet competency requirements in the adopted standards for promotion of students from the eighth (8th) grade as determined by the State Board of Education in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.

The Superintendent will develop procedures for the student to demonstrate competency in the standards adopted by the State Board of Education.

Residency  Verification

In accordance with guidelines and forms adopted by the Arizona Department of Education the District shall require and maintain verifiable documentation of residency in the State of Arizona for pupils who enroll in the District.

Adopted:  November 13, 2018

LEGAL REF.: 
A.R.S.
15-701
15-701.01
15-703
15-766
15-767
15-771
15-821
15-901
15-901.02
A.A.C. 
R7-2-301
Section 78, Arizona Laws 2009, HB 2011

CROSS REF.: 
JF - Student Admissions
JHD - Exclusions and Exemptions from School Attendance
JLC - Student Health Services and Requirements