January 24, 2025

Dear HEEC, CGS, and GHR Families,

During the 2023 Connecticut legislative session, the kindergarten entrance age was raised effective July 1, 2024. The new language stated, children must turn five years old on or before September 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten. However, due to the late legislative decision and the burden this posed to many of our Coventry families, Coventry’s Board of Education met, reviewed the new guidelines, and made a decision to grant a one-year waiver for students of those families who requested early entrance to kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.

As we plan for the 2025-2026 school year, we wanted to inform families that we will be adhering to the district’s Early Admission Process to address early entrance requests. With that, please know, the following annual timeline has been set for those families who would like to request early entrance to kindergarten for their child who turns five after September 1, but before January 1:

• By April 15, the child’s parent/guardian completes the Google form Early Entrance to Kindergarten Request Form 2025-2026.
• By May 15, the Assessment Team (principal and appropriate certified staff) will conduct an assessment of the child to ensure that admitting the child to kindergarten is developmentally appropriate.
• As soon as possible thereafter, parents/guardians will be notified of the decision regarding early admission; all decisions will remain final and cannot be appealed.

For your information please refer to the district’s Administration Regulation 5112-A, which provides additional details for review.

If there are any questions, please do reach out to my office or to the office at the Coventry Grammar School (860-742-7313).

Sincerely,
David

David J. Petrone, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Coventry Public Schools
1700 Main Street
Coventry, CT 06238
860-742-7317 ext 2