Early Access

1. Parent/Guardian accesses the Early Access Application through Harrison School District 2 website or may request a mailed copy by contacting Harrison School District 2 Early Access into kindergarten requires the student be four years old by the first day of school or five years old by the first day of first grade. The parent/guardian must provide a copy of the birth certificate at the time of the application submission.

• The parent/guardian must complete the entire application. Application must be submitted by Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Submittal arrangements should be made through Pattie Vail, Coordinator of Gifted Education, pvail@hsd2.org or (719) 579-3240. Applications will NOT be accepted after Tuesday, February 18, 2025 deadline.

o Per the Military Interstate Compact Agreement, any applications submitted after this deadline are allowed ONLY for students who have relocated within Harrison School District 2 due to parental/guardian military orders. Proof of orders are required and should be included in the application. Determination for Early Access with this agreement will be made no later than requested district of attendance start date. This is the only exception.

2. A complete application must include the following:

• Initial Application completed and signed
• Copy of child’s birth certificate (child must be 4 the first day of kindergarten, or 5 the first day of first grade)
• Proof of residence (the child must be living within Harrison School District 2 boundaries)
• A Letter of Request by legal parent(s)/guardian(s) stating why you believe Early Access is appropriate for your child, including any explanations and/or examples that give evidence of your child’s highly gifted abilities
• Harrison School District 2 Information Release Form
• Any previous private/public school assessment data if applicable
• Any other supporting anecdotal information (letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, or mentors; report cards or evaluations; examples of observable behaviors)
• Student portfolio of work

3. A student portfolio of work must include artifacts that the child has completed within the past year. Each document should be dated. The portfolio should include but is not limited to the following examples of student work:

• Knowledge of number sense
• Knowledge of beginning alphabet sounds
• Knowledge of shapes
• Knowledge of colors
• Examples of writing
• Evidence of reading ability
• Evidence of student interests
• Samples of student drawings/artwork
• Any other items the parent deeps appropriate

4. Upon submission of completed application and student portfolio, a team of educators knowledgeable of gifted education and early childhood development will evaluate the application and portfolio utilizing the Early Access rubric. The parent/guardian will be notified of the team’s decision as to moving forward in the process.
5. The following procedure will be followed if the student moves to the next level of the Early Access process:

• A license/trained professional will administer the Test of Early Mathematic Ability (TEMA) and the Test of Early Reading Ability (TERA) no later than March 28, 2025
• Parent/Guardian will be notified immediately if child scored the minimum of 97th percentile on given assessment. BOTH assessments: TEMA and TERA scores have to be at or above the 97th percentile. If one assessment does not meet the minimum, testing will not continue, and the process will conclude indicating child does not qualify.

6. The final step of Early Access Process:

• A Harrison School District 2 school psychologist will administer the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) by April 16, 2025. Candidate must score a minimum of the 97th percentile to advance in the process.
• Parent/Guardian will be notified of committee’s decision based on data from entire process within one week of administration of WPPSI.

The Early Access Application Form is available by contacting Teresa Thomas at tthomas@hsd2.org, Pattie Vail at pvail@hsd2.org or by calling the Gifted Education Office at (719) 579-3240.

Members of the Early Access team will consist of the following professionals:

• Harrison School District 2 Gifted Education Coordinator
• Gifted Education Facilitator from prospective school
• Administrator from prospective school
• School Psychologist
• Other members as deemed appropriate

Dispute of Findings
Parent/Guardian disputes may be made in writing stating reasons for dispute within five days of the most recent step completed in Early Access Process.

• Meeting between Harrison School District 2 Coordinator and parents/guardians to review data is scheduled. Resolution achieved.
• If no resolution, a meeting between Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Harrison School District 2, Coordinator of Gifted Education and parent/guardians will be scheduled. Resolution achieved.

Non-acceptance:
No further application for Early Access will be considered. Student files are transferred to the receiving school within Harrison School District 2 for instructional programming for the appropriate year and grade. All materials including application contents, portfolio and testing results become the property of Harrison School District 2.