A proposed policy update in Lehighton Area School District would give parents of children born between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15 another option for the student’s kindergarten starting date.

By current standards, children have to be 5 years old by Sept. 1 of a particular year to be eligible for kindergarten attendance that fall.Lehighton’s proposal would allow parents of children turning 5 years old between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15 to write a letter to the district and have the child take an assessment test.Should the child demonstrate readiness for kindergarten on that test, they would be eligible for enrollment that fall instead of waiting until the following school year.“The policy will provide more flexibility to students who may be ready for kindergarten after the Sept. 1 date,” board President Gloria Bowman said.“This is both a benefit to the student and families since students will be afforded earlier educational opportunities if they show readiness for kindergarten.”Lehighton would join Blue Mountain as one of the only area school districts with such a policy.The policy would also affect students transferring in from another district or school.Kindergarten students transferring from another public school who have completed 45 days of attendance at that school would automatically qualify to enter Lehighton’s program.Students coming from a nonpublic kindergarten program or who haven’t completed 45 days at a public school would need to take the kindergarten skills assessment test for admittance.Lehighton’s school board passed a first reading of the policy last week. It will be up for a second reading before becoming final.The next board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 26.