Adopted: August 2006
Revised: November 2021
Download 501.3.2.2P - Early Childhood Screening Reminder Letter
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our census records indicate you have a child who will be age eligible to attend kindergarten in September 20__. According to these records your child has not, as yet, completed Early Childhood Screening.
The state of Minnesota mandates the school district to provide Early Childhood Screening as a one-time check on the health and development of young children prior to kindergarten entrance in a public school. Additional Information about Early Childhood Screening is contained on the enclosed Notice.
Registration for kindergarten occurs in February at all District 196 elementary schools. At that time, you will be asked to show proof of screening when you register your child for kindergarten (along with proof of your child’s age and name, such as a birth certificate or passport).
To schedule an appointment please go online at www.district196.org/screening or call the screening office at 651-423-7899 Screening is available on select Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and we have some Saturdays too. Early Childhood Screening is provided by the school district at no charge to families.
If our information is incorrect and your child has already been screened, please call the screening office and indicate to the secretary when and where your child’s screening was completed (proof of this screening should be presented at the time of registration). If you have moved and are no longer a resident of our school district, please call our office so your name can be removed from our census records.
Our Early Childhood Screening staff (which includes English, Somali and Spanish speakers,) looks forward to meeting you and your child at the Silver Bell Learning Center located at 2120 Silver Bell Road, Eagan, 55122.
Sincerely,
Early Childhood Screening
NOTICE
Early childhood screening helps a school district identify children who may benefit from district and community resources available to help in their development. Early childhood developmental screening includes a vision screening that helps detect potential eye problems but is not a substitute for a comprehensive eye exam. Screening includes at least the following components: developmental assessments, hearing and vision screening or referral, immunization review and referral, height and weight, the date of the child's most recent comprehensive vision examination, if any, identification of risk factors that may influence learning, an interview with the parent about the child, and referral for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment when potential needs are identified. Screening will not include laboratory tests or a physical examination.
The state requires that your child receive such a developmental screening or that you provide health records indicating that your child received a comparable developmental screening within the preceding 365 days from a public or private health care organization or individual health care provider. This must be done no later than 30 days after the first day of first attending a public school.
Under Minnesota law, a child must not be enrolled in kindergarten in a public school unless the parent or guardian of the child submits to the school principal or other person having general control and supervision of the school a record indicating the months and year the child received developmental screening and the results of the screening not later than 30 days after the first day of attendance. If a child is transferred from one kindergarten to another, the parent or guardian of the child must be allowed 30 days to submit the child's record, during which time the child may attend school.
During screening, you have the right under the law to decline to answer questions or provide information about family circumstances that might affect development and identification of risk factors that may influence learning. Declining to answer questions or provide information does not prevent your child from being enrolled in public school if all other screening components are met. In addition, screening is not required if a statement signed by the child's parent or guardian is submitted to your child's building principal stating an objection to the screening based on the conscientiously held beliefs of the parent or guardian.
More information about Early Childhood Screening can be found in Minnesota Statute § 121A.17.