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Kindergarten Acceleration

(To “skip” kindergarten)

Generally, children are best placed at a grade level with students of their own age. However, some students of kindergarten age may already have mastered the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for kindergarten and, for this reason, are ready to go on to first grade. Students who show mastery on kindergarten science, social studies, math, and reading credit-by-exam tests and show developmental readiness may be considered for acceleration to first grade. 

When recommending acceleration, consideration is given to students who can clearly function at an above average level academically AND meet the social, emotional and behavioral demands of first grade as well. Please carefully review the "Is My Child Ready for First Grade in FISD?" to determine if your child meets the minimum criteria for entering first grade prior to submitting a request for your child to skip kindergarten in FISD.


About the Exam

Students seeking grade level acceleration must achieve an 80% or higher on each of the criterion-referenced tests in the following subjects for the grade level that they want to skip (kinder in this case).

  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Math
  • Reading/Language Arts

The test formats vary in the number of items, however all tests contain multiple choice, and may contain open response/essay items and/or have required reading prior to taking the assessment (see review links below). 

Kindergarten exams for acceleration/advancement are administered in multiple sessions (am or pm) over multiple days pending the results of each subject test. 

  • Online kinder assessments are ordered from the University of Texas (UTHS) one at a time, and the subsequent assessment will only be ordered after results are received and the student earned a mastery score of 80% or higher.
    • NOTE - test login info may take up to 10 days to be received by the district
  • Assessments are given in the order listed above and the time limit is 3 continuous hours per assessment
    • If the student is successful with a score of 80% or better, the next test in the sequence will be ordered
    • If the student is not successful, the grade acceleration process ends and the student is not eligible to accelerate
  • To accelerate to the next grade level, the student is required to successfully pass all four assessments

The purpose of an exam for acceleration (EA) is not to inform parents about a student’s academic performance or progress. An EA will not provide information regarding objectives or skills missed. Knowing a score or how many questions a student missed does not help in guiding instruction. Forney ISD teachers assess students throughout the year with a variety of formative and summative assessments that provide parents with information regarding how a student is performing academically. 

Eligibility to Test

Requirements to be met for a student to be eligible to register to begin the exam for acceleration process:

  1. The student must be 5 years of age on or before September 1 of the upcoming school year 
    (Forney ISD does not have a policy to allow for early entrance into kindergarten for students who do not meet the age requirement)
  2. The student must be registered for Kindergarten for the upcoming school year in an FISD school. Information about Student Registration for Kindergarten will be on the District’s website under the Parent Tab > Kindergarten Roundup. 
  3. The application for kindergarten acceleration must be obtained from the campus counselor and completed/submitted on or before the deadline at 4:15pm. Responses will be sent to the campus counselor and the district testing department. 

Requirements to Advance

A district shall accelerate an incoming kinder student one grade level if the student meets all of the following requirements: 

  1. The student scores 80 percent or above on a criterion referenced exam for acceleration for the grade level to be skipped in each of the following areas: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies; 
    • The science test will be ordered first, and if the student earns an 80% or better then the social studies exam, then math, and finally language arts will be ordered 
  2. A district representative recommends that the student be accelerated; and
  3. The student’s parent or guardian gives written approval of the acceleration. Approval is assumed when the application is completed and the first test is ordered.

Practice

  • All credit-by-exam tests from University of Texas and Texas Tech University are based on grade level Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
  • See TEKS on Texas Education Agency
  • See Lead4ward TEKS Snapshot
    • Resources > Content Builder Resources > Select the TEKS Snapshot for the appropriate grade level/subject
  • Any state adopted grade level textbook can be used to study
  • Review guides - counselor will inform you which vendor will be used for your exam for acceleration
    • Select correct grade levels and subject
    • These review sheets will give information about the format of the test, how to study for the exam and what assignments and additional materials are due at the time of the exam. They do not tell you what to study since the test is based on the grade level and subject TEKS
  • University of Texas review guides
  • TTU Review sheets


Important dates for kindergarten acceleration and testing

(*) Student may be recommended by kindergarten teacher or at parent request for acceleration testing 

(**) Student may be recommended by PK teacher(s) or Parent/Guardian for acceleration testing

Score Reporting and Acceleration

  • The campus will contact you directly regarding your student’s test results and recommendations will be discussed. The testing office will not give out any information regarding the results of kindergarten acceleration testing. 
  • If the student does not meet the required minimum score on any test, the grade acceleration process ends, and the student is not eligible for acceleration.
  • Appeal of the testing results will not be available. 
  • If a student meets requirements to accelerate to first grade, they will be accelerated on a probationary basis. Should  the school or teacher feel it is in the best interest of the child to be placed back in Kindergarten you will be contacted. 
  • If you do not want your student to accelerate, or you are unsure if you want him/her to accelerate, your child should not take an exam for acceleration. 
  • Forney ISD does not accept another district’s kindergarten acceleration testing. A student who enrolls in Forney ISD must meet FISD expectations if deadlines have not passed. 

Payment

Exam for Acceleration (EA) - While there is no charge to parents when students take an EA, there is a cost to the district for both the test and occasionally the proctor who monitors the exam as it is given. Therefore, please carefully consider availability during the testing window before completing the application and gather input from educators and/or counselors to determine whether or not acceleration is in the best interest of the student. If a student does not take the exam(s) for which s/he is registered, the district will not assume the cost for the student to register again for the same exam. In this case, the parent/guardian will be required to pay for the exam(s) before the exam(s) will be ordered.  

Additional considerations regarding grade level acceleration

  • Social maturity – When advancing a course, your child’s social and emotional maturity may not match the maturity level of the other students in the course. 
  • Student desire- A student should have the desire and drive to accelerate and maintain the workload of the higher level class. 
  • Teacher/counselor recommendation- Teachers and counselors see your student on a daily basis and may be able to provide additional information regarding whether or not acceleration would be appropriate. 
  • Students may take an Exam for Acceleration during any of the four testing windows. However, placement in a new grade level will only occur at the start of a school year, regardless of when an EA is taken. All four content areas tests must have been completed and passed before the first day of school in order to accelerate. 

 

Kindergarten acceleration flow chart