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Kaneland proposes adding behavioral screener and shifting timeline for early‑entry kindergarten requests
Summary
After a 20‑year review, district staff proposed adding a behavioral screener, a parent checklist, and a February–May timeline for early‑entry (age‑4) kindergarten requests; staff also noted about 118 assessments over 20 years with roughly 25% passing the CogAT academic threshold and said the board will consider a fee in December.
Kaneland CUSD 302 staff reviewed proposed changes to the district’s early‑entry‑to‑kindergarten procedure that would add a behavioral screener, revise the application timeline to February–May, add a parent checklist with open‑ended questions, and consider a fee to cover assessment costs.
Doctor Momin said the district reviewed roughly 20 years of early‑entrance data (about 118 assessed) and found that approximately 25% pass the academic CogAT threshold (the district uses the CogAT and applies a national 63rd‑percentile cutpoint). She said early entrants have shown higher initial behavioral supports in kindergarten and more academic MTSS needs through second and third grade compared with peers who enter at age 5.
Based on that analysis, Momin recommended adding a behavioral screener that would be observed during a 30–40 minute classroom session by a behavior facilitator, MTSS coordinator or ed‑services staff and would require that no concern areas be marked for approval. Staff proposed opening requests Feb. 8 (coinciding with kindergarten registration) and concluding assessments by May 15 so classrooms could be observed during regular instructional periods. Momin said many neighboring districts follow a February–May timeline and shared screener templates during her review.
The district does not currently charge a fee for early‑entry assessment; Momin said among districts that do charge, fees range from about $175 to $500 and the committee discussed a lower range near $200–$250 to cover testing and staff time. Board members raised questions about fee waivers and equity; staff said they will research waiver policies and return with fee recommendations for the board’s December meeting. This was an informational presentation; no procedural changes were approved tonight.
