Early Access for Kindergarten

Durango School District 9-R has the opportunity to accelerate highly advanced gifted children under age 5 for kindergarten and/or under age 6 for first grade. This Early Access is for those eligible students if their birthdays fall after October 1st. It is intended to support students who are evaluated to be exceptional in aptitude/cognitive reasoning, academics, school readiness and motivation. Early Access is not an acceleration pattern recommended for the majority of age 4 or age 5 gifted children who will benefit from preschool or kindergarten programming that responds to the strength area. The purpose is to identify and serve the few highly advanced gifted children who require comprehensive academic acceleration. The decision is based on a thorough set of research based procedures to determine if a child is eligible.

Early Access Timeline
Application packets available for pick up at the Durango School District Administration Building, 201 East 12th Street—February 1
Complete applications and screening portfolios are due—April 1. Applications after April 1st will only be accepted under unusual circumstances (i.e., a family moving to our area after the deadline but before school starting)
Portfolios will be evaluated by the Early Access Team to see if further testing is warranted
Testing is done
Determination letters are sent within 60 calendar days of application and no later than June 1
An Advanced Learning Plan is created by September 30 and progress is monitored every 5 weeks throughout the first year of Early Access

For further information or application assistance, please call Libby Culver, the Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs at 247-5411, ext. 1468.