2230 - Transistion to Kindergarten Program

December 20, 2023
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Board Policy No. 2230

Walla Walla Public Schools operates a transition to kindergarten program. It will ensure that the program serves eligible students of all abilities who need additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten and who lack access to other early learning group settings.

The district will consider the best practices pertaining to a transition to kindergarten program as developed in collaboration between the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The district may blend or co-locate a transition to kindergarten program with other early learning programs.

Eligibility, Recruitment, and Enrollment
The term “screening process and tools” means using one or more instruments or methods of assessing and measuring the ability and need of an individual student. The screening process and tools should be widely used norm-reference screening instruments or tools that demonstrate reliability and validity. The process and tools will be culturally and linguistically relevant.

Children will be eligible to participate in the district’s transition to kindergarten program as follows:
1) Based on a screening process and tool as defined above, the district has determined that the child would benefit from additional preparation for kindergarten; and
2) The child’s age is at least 4 years old by August 31 of the school year in which they enroll in a transition to kindergarten program.

In determining eligibility and admitting students to a transition to kindergarten program, the district will:
1) Give priority to children most in need of additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten, as demonstrated through a screening process and tool.
2) Give priority to children with the lowest family income, not otherwise participating in another local program.
3) Not exclude or establish a policy to prohibit participation of an eligible child due only to the presence of a disability.
4) Not charge tuition or other fees from state-funded eligible students for enrollment in a transition to kindergarten program.

Cross References:
Board Policy 3110 – Qualification of Attendance and Placement

Legal References:
Chapter 28A.300 RCW
WAC 392-425-010

Adopted: December 12, 2023