Early Access to Kindergarten & First Grade
Jeffco Public Schools may grant early entrance to school for highly advanced gifted children, with a body of evidence at or above the 97th percentile, who do not meet the age requirements outlined in Board of Education Policy JEB.
For the requirements of early access to kindergarten and first grade, see Jeffco Board Policy IHBB.
The 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. 12.01(16)
- The student meets the requirements for accelerated placement as determined in an auditable body of evidence (such as achievement, ability, social-emotional factors, school learning skills, developmental characteristics and family and school support). 12.01(12)
- A student shall be age 4 by Oct. 1 for kindergarten and age 5 by Oct. 1 for first grade. 12.08(2)(e)(i)(D)
- The purpose of early access is to identify and serve the few highly advanced gifted children who require comprehensive academic acceleration. 12.08(1)(c)
Read a fact sheet on early access from the Colorado Department of Education.
Application Process
The Early Access Application for the 2025-26 school year will open January 2, 2025.
- Receive early access and developmental history form packet from the GT Office. This is generated from the application.
- The early access packet and portfolio is due on March 21, 2025, to the director of Gifted and Talented at Jeffco Education Center for priority scheduling for cognitive testing.
- The early access team will contact parents with completed and qualifying portfolios to schedule cognitive testing.
- Submit the early access cognitive testing fee of $250 (waived for families who can demonstrate need; see note below) to the GT office or upon check-in for cognitive testing.
- Cognitive testing will be scheduled in early April.
- Notification of acceptance and non-acceptance will be sent to parents by early May.
Jeffco Schools is committed to providing equitable access to programming and educational opportunities. If you require financial assistance or are unable to submit the application and testing fee, please complete the Assistance Request Form. The application deadline follows Jeffco board policy as well as state requirements.
Contact Us
Gifted and Talented
Phone: 303-982-6650
Email: gtinform@jeffco.k12.co.us
GT Resource Teachers
A GT Resource Teacher provides services to students, teachers, administrators and parents to meet individual students' needs. GT Resource Teachers serve many schools, and are not full-time at any school.
SEL & GT Counselors
A GT Counselor, also known as a Social Emotional Learning counselor (SELC), provides social-emotional learning support for GT Center classes and listens to GT Center students' concerns about academic, emotional or social concerns.
Building Leaders
Building Leaders are members of the school staff who share info from the GT Department with the individual school's community.