North Attleborough Public Schools Kindergarten Registration

North Attleborough Public Schools
North Attleborough, Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten, Grade One* Registration

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

SCREENING QUESTIONS

SCHOOL PLACEMENT QUESTIONS

TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS

OTHER CONCERNS

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

Why are age cutoffs now the same date for Kindergarten (8/31) and Grade One (8/31)?
This is a North Attleborough School Committee policy change.

If my child misses the cutoff date for Kindergarten by only a few days, can he go to Kindergarten anyway?
There are no exceptions to the age cutoffs.

Is Kindergarten mandatory?
Kindergarten attendance is not mandatory in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We encourage participation in an established Kindergarten program before entrance into First Grade.

If my child is not ready for Kindergarten, may we withhold him/her until next year?
The decision not to send your child to Kindergarten even if he/she is age eligible is an individual one. Before you make this decision, you may wish to consider his/her performance on the screening, and reports from the current preschool teacher.

Why should I fill out a CORI form?
If you plan to volunteer in any capacity, even for a field trip, you MUST have had a criminal background check. Please read the CORI policy. The completed CORI form must returned in person to the Human Resources Department at the Woodcock Administration Building, Morse Street. You must show photo I.D.

If my child registered for Kindergarten in North Attleborough last year and then attended a private Kindergarten, do I need to register him/her for Grade One?
Yes! Your child is considered a new student in the North Attleborough school system and must register for Grade One.

SCREENING QUESTIONS

What is involved in Kindergarten Screening?
Your child will be screened for pre-academics, for speech and language development, for pre-literacy, and for vision and hearing. We screen all students to abide by Massachusetts General Law, Section 28.03(d) Child Find requirements to assist in the identification of those children who should be referred for an evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services.

If my child will be attending a private Kindergarten program, does he need to be screened?
Screening of all Kindergarten eligible students fulfills the school district's duty to comply with Child Find requirements.

When will I receive the results of my child's screening?
We send results of Kindergarten screening home approximately two weeks after your child has been screened.

Are screening results shared with the private or charter school?
We automatically share results with St. Mary's Sacred Heart School. If your child attends any other school, you must request in writing that screening results be sent, or sign a release to forward the results.

If I receive a notice that my child needs to be re-screened, can he still go to Kindergarten?
All age eligible students attend Kindergarten, regardless of performance at the time of screening. Your child may simply be rechecked in the fall at his home school, or he may be evaluated for special needs. This decision will depend on how well he transitions to the Kindergarten program.

What happens if my child cannot make his screening appointment?
You may be able to reschedule a screening appointment. Otherwise, your child will be screened in the fall at his home school.

If my child doesn't do well on screening day, should he be screened again?
On a case-by-case basis, the screening TEAM may recommend a recheck in the fall.

Are results of screening used to group children?
The main purpose of the screening process is to identify students in need of evaluations to determine eligibility for special education services. As a general rule of thumb, screening results are not used to group children.

Will I receive scores for my child's screening?
No. Tests set a cutoff score only; in essence we use a "pass/fail" system. Your child must meet a certain cutoff score, dependent on his age, to be considered as passing. You will receive a summary letter stating whether or not your child met the cutoff scores based on age, and listing any recommendations for rechecks, etc. which may have been made by the screening team.

SCHOOL PLACEMENT QUESTIONS

Which school will my child attend?
School assignments are determined by a number of factors: the entire pool of Kindergarten eligible children, class size limits, retentions, attendance of siblings, transportation, etc. Parents will receive a letter from the Superintendent's Office in July, informing them of their child's school assignment.

Will my child attend school with his siblings/neighbors?
Every effort is made to keep siblings and neighbors together, but school assignment is primarily dependent on the pool of Kindergarten students at each school, and the factors mentioned above. Many school districts overlap each other.

When will the school department inform us of our child's school assignment?
Kindergarten registration continues all spring, and into the summer. Once the majority of Kindergarten students is registered (near the end of May), preliminary school assignment lists are sent to the transportation company. Notices of school assignment and sessions (AM or PM) are mailed to families from the Superintendent's Office in July.

If we decide to send our child to a private or charter school, what should we do?
Notify the Early Learning Center as soon as possible (508) 643-2145.

Do I have my choice of AM or PM sessions?
Choice of AM or PM sessions is determined by the transportation company. Once you receive your child's school assignment, you may request changes from the Superintendent's Office. Requests for changes are made on a case-by-case basis, and depend on parity of class size, mix of boys and girls, etc. If you request a session change, transportation may not be available for your child.

TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS

Is every Kindergarten child transported, regardless of the distance from school?
No. They must live more than 1.25 miles from the school they are assigned to attend. However, at mid-day, Kindergarten students are transported home from the morning session and picked up for the afternoon session if they live more than 3/4 miles from the school.

Is transportation provided door to door?
No. Bus stops are located at strategic points in each neighborhood area.

Can my child be transported to and from day care?
Transportation must be five days a week, the day care provider must be licensed, and the program location must be on an existing bus route or near an established bus stop.

OTHER CONCERNS

Is there any extended day programming available through the school department?
No. The YMCA runs extended day programming at several schools. Call the YMCA for further information. Several private day care facilities in the area will pick up children from school for after care.

What is your policy regarding children with severe food allergies?
We ask that you work very closely with your school nurse, who will work out a plan with you and your child's teachers.

I have special circumstances regarding school assignment or transportation. Who do I contact?
Many requests for specific schools or sessions are unnecessary. Once school assignments have been made in July, if you still have a problem, contact in writing Dr. James Rice at the Superintendent's Office, 6 Morse Street.