Admission to the Public Schools at or Before Age Five

The Hamden Board of Education (the “Board”) complies with its legal obligation to cause each child five years of age and over and under eighteen years of age who is not a high school graduate and is residing within the Board’s jurisdiction to attend school in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 10-184. 

Effective July 1, 2024, the Hamden Public Schools (the “District”) shall be open to resident children five years of age and over who reach age five on or before the first day of September of any school year. For children who will not reach the age of five on or before the first day of September of the school year, the child’s parent or guardian may submit a written request to the principal of the school seeking early admission to the District. Upon receipt of such written request, the principal and an appropriate certified staff member shall assess such child to determine whether admitting the child is developmentally appropriate. For decisions relating to early admission to the District, the decision of the principal and appropriate certified staff shall be final.

The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for developing administrative regulations in furtherance of this policy. Such regulations shall identify procedures for the receipt and processing of requests for early admission to the District and for assessing whether early admission of a child is developmentally appropriate.

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-15c  Discrimination by public schools prohibited. School attendance for five-year-olds

10-220  Duties of boards of education

10-221  Board of education to prescribe rules, policies, and procedures

10-184  Duties of parents.  School attendance age requirements

Public Act 23-208, “An Act Making Certain Revisions to the Education Statutes.”