Arizona Revised Statute 15-821 states that a child enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years of age on or before August 31 of the current school year.

The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board policy allows children who turn five (5) in September or October to be assessed.

No. There are no exceptions to the school board policy. Only children with September or October birthdays will be considered for possible early entrance into kindergarten.

The decision to accept a child for early entrance to kindergarten is an exception.  The child who is accepted demonstrates advanced readiness skills in relation to grade level (kindergarten) peers and is capable of working in a classroom setting with children who are up to 14 months older.  Decisions regarding acceptance as an early entry student are not based on the proximity of the child’s date of birth to the required kindergarten entry age.

Children who enter kindergarten early are expected to be ready for first grade the following year. Children admitted for early entrance to kindergarten should exhibit exceptional social and emotional maturity and advanced academic skills. They should be capable of working with children who are up to 14 months older.

The screening lasts approximately 30 minutes depending on the child. Children who respond quickly or who refuse to respond may take less time. The child will work one-on-one with a certified teacher or administrator in a variety of short assessments.  Teachers will observe attention span, listening skills and willingness to follow directions.  All screenings take place at Sky View Elementary School, 8624 W. Sweetwater, Peoria, AZ 85381.

The screening will take place the first half of July.  You will schedule your child for a specific time.

Screenings are scheduled online. Payment is due at the time the appointment is made.

The $75 screening cost covers the screener’s time and materials. The fee is paid online when you schedule your appointment.

No. The screeners look for readiness skills that develop naturally as children mature. You can’t prepare for this as you might for a traditional test.

No, however you must remain on the premises. Part of kindergarten readiness is the ability to separate from the parent.

No. Screeners are scheduled based on the number of students. Fees are not refundable for no-shows or for children who do not pass the screening.

Your child will work with a team of professionals who have many years’ experience working with young children. The team will score the evaluations using scoring rubrics provided with the testing materials and make a decision regarding each child’s readiness.

No.  The team makes every effort to be sure the process is fair and equitable.  All decisions are final. 

No. Results of the screening will be mailed or emailed within 10 business days of the screening. Parents can then enroll their child by presenting the acceptance letter stating that the student has passed the early entrance screening for kindergarten.

Every effort is made to accommodate families’ summer schedules and for children who move into the district later in the summer. However, no child will be considered for early entrance screening for requests made less than one week prior to the first day of school and no age exceptions will be granted after the start of the first day of school.

No. Only children who pass the Peoria Unified early entry screener will be admitted into kindergarten.

Your child may enroll in before and after school care programs once they have reached their 5th birthday.

Peoria Unified has preschool programs on multiple campuses throughout the district.  You can find information on the Preschool section of our website. 

Information for the Family Resource Center can also be found on our website.