Administrative Procedure 300

ENTRANCE AGE for ECS
and GRADE One

Background

Valhalla Community School, a public charter school, welcomes students who are of legal age to attend school. In accordance with the Education Act children who are eligible for an Early Childhood Services (ECS) program (also called “kindergarten”) must be five years old by December 31 of the school year in which they are enrolled in ECS. This is a common age of entry across Alberta and came into effect in 2020. Notwithstanding, a child with special needs may be enrolled in an Early Childhood Services (ECS) program at an earlier age as per Alberta Education regulations. Parents are encouraged to consider their child’s emotional, social, and educational readiness if the child is not yet five years old when the ECS program begins in September Parents may consider waiting to admit their child until the following school year. A child who will be six(6) years of age on or before December 31 of the current school year shall be eligible for entry to Grade One (1).

Procedures

1. Registration may be approved for children who reach the applicable age before December 31 of that school year.
2. ECS / Kindergarten programs are offered to children who are preparing to enter Grade One in the following year.
3. Where a child has been admitted early to a kindergarten program because of special needs, that child’s entry into Grade One in the subsequent year(s) shall be subject to the age of eligibility being six years of age before December 31 of the year in which the child is considered for entry to Grade One. A child with special needs who is admitted early to an ECS program may participate in the ECS program until he/she reaches the age of eligibility for entry to Grade One.
4. Parents of a beginning student are required to present proof of the child’s age and to complete a Student Registration Form which notes at least: legal name, birth date, proof of citizenship, proof of age through presentation of a birth certificate or passport. Every effort shall be made to obtain proper verification of legal name and age, and copies thereof shall be kept in the appropriate registration files at the School. Legal documents confirming guardianship shall be presented prior to registration.
5. The parent or guardian may make a statutory declaration regarding the student’s legal name and age on condition that acceptable verification is provided within three (3) months from the date of registration.

References: Section 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13,22, 23, 31, 32 Education Act Guide to Education ECS to Grade 12
Alberta Education Funding Manual