Early Access
Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) defines "Early Access" as:
Early entrance to kindergarten at age 4 or early entrance to first grade at age 5 for highly advanced gifted children who are placed in a grade level above other same aged peers based upon the following conditions:
- The student is formally identified as gifted as specified in 12.01(16); and
- The student meets requirements for accelerated placement as determined in an auditable body of evidence (e.g., achievement, ability, social-emotional factors, school learning skills, developmental characteristics, and family and school support).
- A student shall be age 4 by October 1 for kindergarten; and, age 5 by October 1 for first grade.
The purpose of early access is to identify and serve the few highly advanced gifted children who require comprehensive academic acceleration.
If you are interested in applying for Early Access for your child, the application will be open from Friday 1/3/2025 through Friday 3/7/2025
You can apply for Early Access here
What is the criteria?
Identification of a potential gifted student through Early Access will be based on best practices for identifying gifted learners with guidance from the Colorado Department of Education and will include a body of evidence in addition to the application itself. Criteria will identify highly advanced gifted children who are age four by the start of school for kindergarten or age five by the start of school for first grade. A child who may benefit from Early Access is academically gifted, socially and emotionally mature, in the top 2% of the gifted peer group per normed tests, motivated to learn, and ready to begin school.
All applicants must have a filled out an interest form, submit a minimum of a 4 sample portfolio and score above the 97th percentile in 5 normed referenced assessments (social emotional, cognitive, reading, writing AND math).