Adopted:              3-23-00                                                                 MSBA/MASA Model Policy 607

Orig. 1995

Revised:    7-21-21                                                                                                              Rev. 2020

607      ORGANIZATION OF GRADE LEVELS

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 Minn. Stat. § 120A.05, as follows:

[Note:  Each school district should identify within the groupings as defined in Minn. Stat. § 120A.05, how grade levels shall be organized within the school district  from the options listed below:

Elementary:                Grades prekindergarten through 6

Middle:                        Minimum of two consecutive grades above 4th but below 10th

                                    Secondary:                  (Grades 7 through 12)

                                    Junior High                Grades __7_ through _8__

                                    Senior High                Grades _9__ through _12__

                                    Vocational                  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 Connection 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 (Public Schools)

            Minn. Stat. § 120A.20, Subd. 4 (Verification of Age for Admission to Public School)

Minn. Stat. § 123B.02, Subd. 2 (General Powers of Independent School Districts)

Cross References: