Saucon Valley School District may soon require kindergarten students who reach the age of five-years-old by Sept. 1.

District Superintendent Dr. Monica McHall-Small presented the recommendation to the school board at its Jan. 27 meeting.

The current registration system, according to the district website, permits students who reach the age of five between Sept. 2 and Oct. 31 to be admitted contingent upon a skills assessment conducted by district personnel.

McHall-Small said the assessment introduces the potential for the district to discriminate because, as she said, some students with disabilities may not score as well on the test.

"We are thereby excluding students with disabilities from early admission to kindergarten," she told the board.

The Sept. 1 date, according to McHall-Small, is often used by other school districts in the state.

Board Solicitor Mark Fitzgerald said roughly 90 districts in the state use the Sept. 1 date.

He cautioned the board the district is potentially opening itself up to lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act by not implementing a firm date.

Board member Susan Baxter expressed disagreement with the Sept. 1 date.

"I think what we are doing is holding some people back that are ready," she said.

McHall-Small responded the district does offer a number of programs for children to advance in their academic careers once they are registered and attending.

The district is currently exploring the Sept. 1 date while taking into consideration legal precedence, according to McHall-Small.