Arizona Revised Statute 15-821 states that a child enrolling in first grade must be six (6) 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 six (6) in September, October, November or December to be assessed for early entrance.

No. State laws requires student entering first grade early to be six (6) on or before December 31st. No exceptions will be made.

The decision to accept a child for early entrance to 1^st grade is an exception.  The child who is accepted demonstrates advanced skills in relation to grade level (1^st grade) peers and is capable of working in a classroom setting with children who are up to 16 months older.  Decisions regarding acceptance as an early entry 1^st grade student are not based on the proximity of the child’s date of birth to the required 1^st grade age or on the basis of completion of a kindergarten program.

Children who enter first grade early are expected to be ready for second grade the following year. Children admitted for early entrance to first grade should exhibit exceptional social and emotional maturity and advanced academic skills. They should be capable of working with children who are up to 16 months older.

The screening lasts 45-60 minutes depending on the child. 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. Children will be assessed on end of kindergarten expectations, based on the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards, in both literacy and mathematics. All screening takes place at Sky View Elementary School, located at 8624 West Sweetwater Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85381.

The screening will take place during 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.

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

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

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 first grade.

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 first grade early.

No. If your child passed the early entry test for kindergarten in Peoria Unified and has completed kindergarten in the district, they do not need to be retested for 1st grade. If kindergarten was completed outside of PUSD, testing is required.