[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6580244,"mediaKeyId","3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f","parentId",3143971,"title","Policy committee keeps Sept. 15 kindergarten cutoff, tightens pathway for early entry","audioSeconds",486,"startMs",48000,"endMs",534000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f&start=48&end=534","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f/thumbnail_48000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580244/Pennsylvania/Policy-committee-keeps-Sept-15-kindergarten-cutoff-tightens-pathway-for-early-entry","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580244-095ee33f27995ae62a9100997bbc8fe3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159863&Signature=N8Edh6gq1QxqwTWjKaI9pJSNx~FLYp558~FOg3MgBVHpz7V8MlR9y2h-a7R~rCyKejJzJS8geAQq6h878aygjIQbR4-TNyrokQBYwMGaaC7JVUEkNu3jFY~m0DUPC44Tut5p2QmqXsa6mEK90WGMxzLEGqT13iDPsxUugjGYttQ43rpqx~DJOfqULW4hmrM5KdIvW3rDdWy5Fe4y2-kr29VBBQGqsOSTWNUgVI1E~SAgRzTJ8e35MAYQBbbC9TXqvwHo5jFvFtyE~O1-apuw7KB80raETvI9tFYsjlCqrW8~4zVOyKr3P8cbKqZKpk0AKhRtQKsS9prN60GlUerYNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Springfield Township School District","date","2025-04-29T11:59:33.703Z","article","SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Springfield Township School District’s policy committee on April 28 recommended a narrow amendment to Policy 201 on student admissions and declined to broadly reopen the district’s kindergarten age cutoff.

The committee agreed to keep the district’s Sept. 15 cutoff date for kindergarten entry and to tighten language around early entry so that any child presented for first grade after attending kindergarten elsewhere must have attended a state‑approved kindergarten program or be a district resident. The administration will present the revision for a first reading at the board meeting on May 6.

The change responds to a handful of annual requests for early admission from families whose children’s birthdays fall shortly after the cutoff. Dr. Johnson, who led the policy review for the Office of Teaching and Learning, told the committee that the district previously moved its cutoff from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15 in a 2022 comprehensive review and that the office examined local practices and research before recommending no broad change to the deadline.

“The research still suggests that the older you are coming into kindergarten, the more developed social and academic skills you will have,” Dr. Johnson said, adding that altering the cutoff to a later date could push children out of Head Start or Pre‑K Counts programs and into kindergarten before they have had access to holistic early‑learning services.

Dr. Lutz, who oversees residency and admissions functions, said the two administrators reviewed county practices and found that most neighboring districts use an Aug. 31, Sept. 1 or Sept. 15 cutoff and that only two (Pottstown and Hatboro‑Horsham) routinely provide early admission tied to district‑run preschool feeds. The committee noted Bryn Athyn’s differing approach but concluded it was not a useful model for Springfield Township because Bryn Athyn’s programming and grade configuration differ.

Committee members asked how families might try to “circumvent” the cutoff by enrolling a child in private kindergarten elsewhere and then seeking placement in first grade. Dr. Johnson said that practice currently exists in a limited number of cases and that the recommended language would narrow eligibility by requiring documentation of a state‑approved kindergarten program.

Committee Chair (name not specified) described the proposed amendment as a “very minor change” that would ensure consistency and equity across the district, and members voiced support for moving the revision forward for a single reading in May.

The committee did not take a formal recorded vote; members indicated assent in the discussion and the chair directed staff to prepare the one‑read amendment for the board’s May 6 meeting.

The administration said it would circulate the finalized revision and supporting research with the May board materials.

Notes: This discussion began with a review of the district’s prior policy change in February 2022 and countywide comparisons; no formal ordinance or statutory citation beyond Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance was invoked.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SDST Policy Committee Meeting April 28th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Springfield Township School District’s policy committee on April 28 recommended a narrow amendment to Policy 201 on student admissions and declined to broadly reopen the district’s kindergarten age cutoff.","taxTitle","Springfield Township SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",46479,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580232,"Administration updates school‑visitor regulation for law enforcement interactions; district to implement pending solicitor guidance",203,1556000,1759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f&start=1556&end=1759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f/thumbnail_1556000.jpg","/articles/6580232/Pennsylvania/Administration-updates-schoolvisitor-regulation-for-law-enforcement-interactions-district-to-implement-pending-solicitor-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580232-5af7c4b324f8645d06ea8d2e7c31c7cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159863&Signature=YCVnu-MOdLOtJgxfEwlUstbp9BBnVxs5WNfTIZqBwEqek1bFj-NHV7wMMc-vKXEaIqpDUnJQlFKD1Rdd1jZLFPVejNtFIckF4LyDUeIVuHbDBwncXupJLDQAUN3lE~Z-~frUzt8EXb8CDwD22AwO6MlcnslWgKUaeWH9r0A~J-~UvbZ0hzxnB6SgJvqJxfszWLJPdPOB6g2f4ecx9sdpqum1j1J2-6PBnvAgGuBz2l-Ie0cVRbOQaJYVvkEohpKp~YoV-9th4j~77M11Auqon-Vk~~habr4QUQLVH~qEl4ZuTAZefSQkpuBLWed-RWPCThK6-Bm4jNW5lC6ZydBpaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The policy committee reviewed a revised Administrative Regulation (AR 907) that clarifies how district staff will handle visits by law enforcement, including procedures for verifying judicial warrants, parental notification, private interviews with district support present, interpretation services and documentation.

The administration said attorneys have reviewed the AR and found it enforceable and compliant with the law. Under the draft, building administrators or designees will request paperwork authorizing agents to ensure a valid judicial warrant before granting access; if a warrant is verified, the district will comply. If it is not valid, the district will deny entrance. The AR directs staff to bring any student who is the subject of a warrant to the main office for interviews in a private room with district support personnel present, and to follow lockdown procedures if law enforcement reports an immediate threat to student safety.

Committee members asked whether interpretation services would be available; Dr. Lutz said the district contracts with two interpretation services — one for deaf/hard‑of‑hearing needs and another for multiple languages, available in person, by Zoom or by telephone (telephone being instantaneous). Committee members also asked about documentation of visiting officers’ names, agency and purpose; the administration confirmed the AR includes verification and documentation procedures.

Members asked whether interviews would be recorded. The administration said the district has not typically recorded interviews and would consult with the solicitor to determine whether audio or video recording of interviews is permitted and advisable. The administration also said the AR will be part of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Springfield Township Police Department and will be implemented immediately while the administration seeks final legal guidance and circulates a final version by email.

“I’ll provide you a final version of this document by email when we’ve gotten that feedback from our attorneys,” the administration said. The committee agreed that the district should implement the AR promptly and that the AR should explicitly document visitor verification and interaction procedures.","SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The policy committee reviewed a revised Administrative Regulation (AR 907) that clarifies how district staff will handle visits by law enforcement, including procedures for verifying judicial warrants, parental notification, private interviews with district support present, interpretation services and documentation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580237,"Students ask committee to consider sustainability goals; board staff to draft proposal",353,1179000,1532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f&start=1179&end=1532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f/thumbnail_1179000.jpg","/articles/6580237/Pennsylvania/Students-ask-committee-to-consider-sustainability-goals-board-staff-to-draft-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580237-39c0b2805821a3c9779a3e70e4e6f3f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159863&Signature=l41q04bWdXuEklFLd9ztZCpRh0ScyxodKndzjhnMgPTA7K-B8HZKt2u7JeVSdw6NgiXqIT00TlbLwvprBsnJjJZIEDfJA9FBDL9B6OZ~IZ5fZDI86AV-xvm0f9Yxc-~bdBNWPl6Mi67LoxE3SMVLn4UPo1ffk52cwbLHt1JPSYU7c89D6fTOFMzNnQrufcDtcWzpTK59M07M8OGQbUH~F6JAXy-2S9qN4ooBt8gz5Qhw4VejwS6SxM1OQMCGQSf4GkoaiSPnSUSJ9nxcaOEel7wADymqsoP8qXjvk5rbm9W~CxlgFtoaqMcKff~7kVH2-47MOAn0NjMI8APGCR7ZAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Student members of Springfield Township SD’s sustainability committee asked the policy committee to consider district sustainability goals, and committee members asked staff to draft a goals statement that would reflect fiscal constraints.

At the April 28 meeting the administration shared Radnor Township’s sustainability goals as an example; student representative Ari Schwartzman was identified as one of three students who requested the discussion. The students asked the board to adopt goals that communicate values and direction but would not commit the district to specific projects, such as purchasing electric buses.

Committee members said they were supportive of the idea but urged language that requires cost‑benefit analysis and fiscal feasibility. One member noted the district recently purchased two conventional buses and that electric bus costs and infrastructure remain prohibitive, citing past district analysis that photovoltaic panels did not offer financial benefit compared with other capital investments.

“I think it’s something that we should take into account, but I think as a board we have to weigh all of our options,” one committee member said.

The committee asked staff to draft a goals document or resolution, including explicit caveats about resource availability and potential collaboration with the township, and to bring the draft back to the next policy meeting for consideration before it would be forwarded to the full board.","Students from a district sustainability committee asked the policy committee to consider adopting sustainability goals modeled on Radnor Township’s plan; the committee asked staff to draft language that would include cost‑benefit caveats and options for township collaboration.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580240,"Committee accepts PSBA draft on accommodations for pregnant students; two readings planned",116,961000,1077000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f&start=961&end=1077","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3143971-976156306839061fd675e16618e3d87f/thumbnail_961000.jpg","/articles/6580240/Pennsylvania/Committee-accepts-PSBA-draft-on-accommodations-for-pregnant-students-two-readings-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580240-152a3b9011c0b5a9c234672790406896/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159863&Signature=oiK~GdXic-18wTTfGtSWkMF8klj8eJSep5BwO6rdi54~N0Uvl72ch2j8wNUWqEfmD~Arwvrghwpv2XNd9ye3m5vZdQws0-54ofFHBZVZ3f53xPlNpPHytjYqtkMrT4EKogcRIafi92lcsYiZPwhqePTpF1qIxqSsGfc2pHmq3p9zZCHMbgt69K5v3PPt5FvF-WdQfNJUSQK0pd1YH-0y2yG8UP0C4jmszEuTgDNvOP-srlbMcuVVTSBErayKFeGUwMz5Jb8AlIOtv74GMaw5efzQaOSpMWfEhLGSmtK-G1nqkevWlq948Txs4q8~YvJfqUnRyMLbOKwIPHSctihTNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The policy committee reviewed a PSBA‑recommended policy on accommodations for pregnant and parenting students and signaled support for moving the draft through the board’s two‑reading adoption process in May.

The draft policy lists a range of voluntary accommodations: breaks in class for restroom/food, intermittent absences for medical appointments, voluntary leave of absence, online or homebound instruction, schedule or course‑sequence changes, deadline extensions, lactation facilities, counseling, and flexibility on sitting or standing. The administration said the district does not anticipate frequent use but wants ready procedures.

“Anyone who’s been pregnant probably understands that one — the ability to get up and move around if you need to,” the committee chair said while outlining the PSBA draft. The committee agreed the draft checks “every box” for reasonable modifications and noted it would require two readings before adoption.

Committee members asked whether accommodations such as excusal from physical education would be covered. The administration responded that changes in schedule could accommodate such requests and that the draft explicitly allows schedule or course‑sequence adjustments.

The administration said adoption will follow the PSBA template and that the policy would be scheduled for two readings in May and take effect after the May 19 meeting, with one participant noting the effective date could technically be May 20 depending on procedural timing.

The committee did not take a formal roll call vote at the meeting; members present voiced support for proceeding with the two‑reading process and the administration will place the draft on the May agenda.","The policy committee reviewed a Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) draft policy on pregnant students' accommodations, agreed it provides reasonable accommodations, and directed the administration to proceed with the two readings required for adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Policy committee keeps Sept. 15 kindergarten cutoff, tightens pathway for early entry

Administration updates school‑visitor regulation for law enforcement interactions; district to implement pending solicitor guidance

Students ask committee to consider sustainability goals; board staff to draft proposal

Committee accepts PSBA draft on accommodations for pregnant students; two readings planned