Early Entrance to Kindergarten

For parents interested in early admission to kindergarten:

State law requires that a child must be five years old by August 31 in order to be admitted to kindergarten during a given year. The Bellevue School District’s policy for early entrance to kindergarten allows parents to apply for early entrance if their child's fifth birthday falls after the August 31 cut-off, but on or before November 30.

Video for Early Entrance to Kindergarten Parent Information Night
Note: This video was recorded during the 2011 information meeting, however, the content is identical to this year’s presentation. Please also see the Question and Answer document outlining parents’ questions following the presentation and Dr. Edstrom’s responses

Please see the district’s website for more detail about the Early Entrance to Kindergarten (EEK) application procedures. Further questions may be addressed to the EEK Secretary at eek@bsd405.org or by calling 425.456.4149.

School Readiness

School Readiness. Mary Ann Raforth, Erin Buchenauer, Katherine Kolb Crissman, & Jennifer Halko (2004). TeachersAndFamilies.com

When to Start Kindergarten? Suggestions for Parents. National Association of School Psychologists. TeachersAndFamilies.com

Gifted / Highly Capable Children*

Books and Other Resources for Parents of Highly Capable Children. Dr. Nancy Robinson (2008).

Parenting the Very Young, Gifted Child (RBDM 9308). Nancy M. Robinson (1993). The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, University of Connecticut. “This report provides research-based answers to questions facing families of young, gifted children, and to questions often asked of preschool teachers, physicians, psychologists, and other professionals who deal with young children.”

Resource List of Education Programs for Bright Children. Compiled by the Robinson Center for Young Scholars.

Books**

Building Blocks: Making Children Successful in the Early Years of School. Gene I. Maeroff. ISBN-13: 978-1-4039-6994-1 or ISBN-10: 1-4039-6994-9

Early Learning and Development Benchmarks. A Guide to Young Children’s Learning and Development: From Birth to Kindergarten Entry. Prepared for Washington State’s Early Learning and Development Benchmarks Advisory Panel by Sharon Lynn Kagan, Pia Rebello Britto, Kristie Kauerz, & Kate Tarrant.

Kindergarten Success: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn. Amy James. ISBN-13: 978-0-471-74813-7 or ISBN-10: 0-471-74813-7

Practical Wisdom for Parents: Demystifying the Preschool Years. Nancy Schulman & Ellen Birnbaum. ISBN: 978-0-307-26354-4

Ready for Preschool: Prepare Your Child for Happiness and Success at School. Nancy B. Hertzog, PhD. ISBN-13: 978-1-59363-311-0 or ISBN-10: 1-59363-311-4

The Secret of Play: How to Raise Smart, Healthy, Caring Kids from Birth to Age 12. Ann Pleshette Murphy. ISBN: 978-0-7566-4100-9

What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know. E. D. Hirsch, Jr. & John Holdren. ISBN: 0-385-31841-3

*These can be found on the Robinson Center for Young Scholars website.
** Note from Dr. Edstrom, Early Entrance Admissions Coordinator for Bellevue School District: I have not read these books in entirety so I am unable to speak to the research base or quality of recommendations within. Hence, this book list entails suggestions not recommendations per se.