School Board Policy 607 -
Organization of Grade Levels

Adopted: september 8, 1997
REVISED: june 11, 2001
revised: January 11, 2021
Revised: January 8, 2024

I. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to address the grade level organization of schools within the school district.

II. General Statement of Policy

A. The policy of the school district is to address the groupings of grade levels as recognized in Minnesota Statutes, section 120A.05, as follows:

Elementary: Grades K through 5            Grades Prekindergarten through 5

Middle: Grades 6 through 8

Senior High: Grades 9 through 12

B. The Superintendent may seek School Board approval to administer certain programs on a nongraded basis or a design different from that indicated. Program proposals that seek school board approval must meet all state requirements and reflect the rationale for the modification.

C. The school district may request documentation that verifies a student falls within the school's minimum and maximum age requirements for admission to publicly funded prekindergarten, preschool, kindergarten, or grades 1 through 12. Documentation may include a passport, a hospital birth record or physician's certificate, a baptismal or religious certificate, an adoption record, health records, immunization records, immigration records, previously verified school records, early childhood screening records, Minnesota Immunization Information Connections records, or an affidavit from a parent.

III. Definitions

A. "Kindergarten" means a program designed for students five years of age on September 1 of the calendar year in which the school year commences that prepares students to enter first grade the following school year.

B. "Prekindergarten" means a program designed for students younger than five years of age on September 1 of the calendar year in which the school year commences that prepares students to enter kindergarten the following school year.

Legal References:
Minn. Stat. § 120A.05, Subds. 9, 10a, 11, 13, 17 (Definitions)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.20, Subd. 4 (Admission to Public School)
Minn. Stat. § 123B. 02, Subd. 2 (General Powers of Independent School Districts)