Stevensville School District

STUDENTS 

Entrance, Placement, and Transfer

Entrance, Date, and Age
The trustees will enroll and admit a child to a school in the district when the child is 5 years of age or older on or before the tenth (10th ) day of September of the school year in which the child is to enroll but is not yet 19 years of age who is a resident of the District. Parents may request a waiver of the age requirement. All waivers are granted in the sole discretion of the Trustees Non-resident students may be admitted at the discretion of the Trustees. Children will be enrolled in the grade identified in accordance with District policy or at the discretion of the administration in consultation with the student’s parents or guardians. The District requires proof of identity and an immunization record for every child to be admitted to District schools. The trustees may at their discretion assign and admit a child to a school in the district who is under 5 years of age or an adult who is 19 years of age or older if there are exceptional circumstances that merit waiving the age provision. The trustees may also admit an individual who has graduated from high school but is not yet 19 years of age even though no special circumstances exist for waiver of the age provision of this Policy.

Exceptions
A child who has successfully completed one year of a state accredited kindergarten may at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, enter the first grade irrespective of the child’s birth date or cut-off date of the district where the child attended kindergarten.

For a child whose (fifth)5th birthday is after September 10th, consideration by the Board of Trustees for kindergarten entry may be given under two circumstances:

1. A child’s birthday falls between September 11th and September 30th and:
a. The parents provide the results of a readiness test to the elementary principal to review and the principal determines that this student is academically ready for kindergarten;
b. The parents have a meeting with their child and a kindergarten teacher and the teacher affirms the student is ready for kindergarten;
c. Adding this child will not overload the kindergarten class.

2. The child has been determined to be mentally advanced by completing the following:
a. Request for early admission is submitted in writing to the Board by April 15, preceding the year of admission, unless the parents of the child became residents after April 15;
b. A conference is held by the principal and kindergarten teacher with the child and child’s parent(s)/guardian;
c. The child’s parent(s) submit, at their expense, written documentation to the elementary principal by August 15th to include, but not limited to the results of the following.

1. An individual mental measurement test that would indicate the child’s mental age to be at least one (1) full year in advance of his/her chronological age;
2. A readiness test;
3. A physician’s statement attesting to the child’s physical, emotional and social readiness
4. Any recommendations and supporting evidence from the child’s pre-school teacher(s);
5. The recommendation of the kindergarten teacher and the principal of the elementary.

An early admission shall be reviewed after six (6) weeks. A decision based on the kindergarten teacher’s recommendation to withdraw a child from the kindergarten program rests solely with the district.

School Entrance
1. The District requires that a student’s parents, legal guardian, or legal custodian present proof of identity of the child1 to the school within forty (40) days of enrollment, as well as proof of residence in the District. Students who are not residents of the District may apply for admission pursuant to Policy 3141.

2. To be admitted to District schools, in accordance with the Montana Immunization Law, a child must have been immunized against varicella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubella, mumps, and measles in the manner and with immunizing agents approved by the department. Immunizations may not be required if a child qualifies for conditional attendance or an exemption is filed as provided by Montana law.

3. The above requirements are not to serve as barriers to immediate enrollment of students designated as homeless or foster children as required by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the McKinney-Vento Act as amended by ESSA. The District shall work with the local child welfare agency, the school last attended, or other relevant agencies to obtain necessary enrollment documentation and ensure a student receives education services in the best interests of the child. The Superintendent or designee shall serve as point of contact with all applicable agencies to review records, facilitate services and resolve disputes.

Placement
1. For the purposes of this section “proof of identity” means a certified copy of a birth certificate, a certified transcript or similar student records from the previous school, or any documentary evidence that a school district considers to be satisfactory proof of identity. 44-2-511(6)(a), MCA

The District goal is to place students at levels and in settings that will increase the probability of student success. Developmental testing, together with other relevant criteria, including but not limited to health, maturity, emotional stability, and developmental disabilities, may be considered in the placement of all students. Final disposition of all placement decisions rests with the principal, subject to review by the Superintendent or the Board.

Children of Relocated Military Families
The Board shall assign and admit a child whose parent or guardian is being relocated to Montana under military orders to a school in the district and allow the child to preliminarily enroll in classes and apply for programs offered by the District prior to arrival and establishing residency. The student may attend classes during preliminary enrollment and may receive offsite instruction if not present in the District.

Transfer
District policies regulating the enrollment of students from other accredited elementary and secondary schools are designed to protect the educational welfare of children.

Elementary Grades (K-8): A student transferring into the District will be admitted and placed subject to observation by appropriate teachers and a building principal during a probation period
of two (2) weeks. Thereafter, should doubt arise as to initial grade and level placement of a student, school personnel will conduct an educational assessment to determine appropriate grade and level placement.

Secondary Grades (9-12) Credit Transfer: A transfer of credits from any secondary school is subject to a satisfactory examination of the following:
1. Appropriate certificates of school accreditation;
2. Length of course, school day, and school year;
3. Content of applicable courses;
4. School building as it relates to credit earned (i.e., lab areas for appropriate science or vocational instruction);
5. Appropriate evaluation of student performance leading toward credit issuance.
6. Final approval of transfer credits will be determined by the High School Principal.

The District will follow Montana Accreditation Rules and Standards, along with local alternate procedures for earning credit, in reviewing requests for transfer of credits. High school principals have authority for approving credit transfers, subject to review by the Superintendent or the Board.

Legal Reference:
§ 20-5-101, MCA Admittance of child to school
§ 20-5-403, MCA Immunization required – release and acceptance of immunization records
§ 20-5-404, MCA Conditional attendance
§ 20-5-405, MCA Medical or religious exemption
§ 20-5-406, MCA Immunization record
§ 44-2-511, MCA School enrollment procedure
10.16.3122, ARM Local Educational Agency Responsibility For Students with Disabilities
10.55.601, et seq., ARM Accreditation Standards: Procedures

Policy History:
Adopted on: December 2001
Reviewed on: April 9, 2019; January 14, 2020; September 14, 2021
Revised on: May 14, 2019; February 11, 2020; October 12, 2021