This information was produced by the staff of the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development (B-BC) at the University of Iowa (belinblank.org). The resources and information listed here are for informational purposes; there is no direct or implied endorsement by the B-BC. Services provided by the B-BC include programs for academically talented K-12 and college students, professional development for teachers, the Assessment and Counseling Clinic, the Acceleration Institute (accelerationinstitute.org), and graduate programs and research in gifted education.

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Early Entrance to Kindergarten for Academically Talented 4-Year-Olds: Information and Resources

General information

Parents sometimes consider early entrance to kindergarten for their academically talented child. Daycare providers and preschool teachers typically are not taught about giftedness in their early childhood education training. Educators who do not recognize the needs of young gifted learners often overlook children who would benefit from early entrance to kindergarten or first grade. Parents of young gifted children often have no source for information on how to assist their children or how to advocate for them.

Time for Elementary School: What Parents Should Know About Early Entrance, Accelerated Placement, and Advanced Learning (April 13, 2021).

Some good advice

Selection of Candidates for Early Admission to Kindergarten and First Grade, by Nancy Robinson and Linda Weimer.

What are the policies in your state?

Some states have a specific process outlined for early entrance to school.
Some states allow individual school districts to decide what to do.
Some states specifically prohibit early entrance to kindergarten.
Learn about your state's policies.

Iowa Acceleration Scale

By Susan G. Assouline, Nicholas Colangelo, Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, Jonathan Lipscomb, and Leslie Forstadt. Published by Great Potential Press.

The Iowa Acceleration Scale, 3rd edition, is a tool to help schools make effective decisions regarding a grade-skip. It is designed to take personal bias out of the decision-making process when considering a child for whole-grade acceleration. The IAS requires test data and other information and utilizes a child-study team format to come to agreement on questions related to the child's motivation, relationships with teachers and peers, etc.

Websites

www.nationempowered.orgoffers a free download of the new report, which includes a chapter on whole grade acceleration and early entrance to kindergarten. Also includes information on how to order paper copies.
nationdeceived.org offers a free download of the national report on acceleration.
http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/ contains resources on many gifted education topics, including acceleration.
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/acceleration.htm offers a variety of acceleration resources.
Ohio Dept. of Education's Academic Acceleration page includes a written acceleration plan and other great resources for school personnel.
Colorado's Early Access Information provides information about that state's early entrance policies and practices.
http://www.accelerationinstitute.org/Resources/QA/ offers answers to commonly asked questions about acceleration.

Get Empowered! Check out the 2015 report, A Nation Empowered, which includes a chapter on whole grade acceleration and early entrance to kindergarten.. See www.nationempowered.org for more information.