Unless I do something within the next year, my grandson is going to have to spend another year in daycare--instead of heading off to kindergarten like he ought to be.
In 2007, a North Carolina state law was passed pushing the birthdate required to enter kindergarten up to August 31. It used to be October 16. My grandson's birthday in September 6.
I have been told I can get him tested at MY expense to see if he would qualify for an early entrance. My expense is the equivalent to several hundred dollars and he must have a passing rate in the 98 percentile. He must be able to read and do math.
So maybe that explain some issues involving some adults I know. They were let into kindergarten before their time.
The following is a list of states and cut-off dates for kindergarten. Your child, grandchild or some else's child you know may also be affected:
Alabama- September 1
Alaska- August 15
Arizona- September 1
Arkansas-September 15
British Columbia, Canada- December 31
California-December 3
Colorado- September 15
Connecticut-January 1
Florida-September 1
Georgia- September 1
Hawaii-December 31
Idaho- September 1
Illinois-September 1
Iowa- September 1 or 15
Kansas-August 31
Kentucky-October 1
Louisiana- September 30 (except Orleans Parish 12/31)
Maine-October 15
Maryland-Entering kindergartners must be 5 by Dec. 31
Massachusetts-September 1
Michigan-December 1
Minnesota-September 1
Mississippi-September 1
Missouri-AUGUST 1 (moved from July 1)
Montana-December 2
Nebraska-October 15
Nevada-September 30
New Hamshire-September 30
New Jersey-November 30
New Mexico
New York-November 30
North Carolina-AUGUST 31
North Dakota- December 2
Ohio-September 30
Oklahoma- September 1
Oregon-September 1
Pennsylvania (dates vary from district to district)
Rhode Island- Variable from September 1 to December 31
South Carolina- September 1
Texas-September 1
Utah-August 31
Vermont-dates vary from 9/1 to 1/1
Virginia-September 30
Washington- August 31
West Virginia- September 1
Wisconsin-September 1
Puerto Rico- September 1
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7 comments:
So if he had been born a week earlier he would have trotted off to kindergarten just like every other 5-year old and no one would have thought twice about it. But because he was born 7 DAYS after the cutoff you have to prove that he's EXCEPTIONAL? Kinda leaves you speechless doesn't it? Of course we all know that Jarod is exceptional! Maybe he could get in on a soccer scholarship! :^)
He has to be able to do MATH and READ to get into kindergarten??? What the heck? Isn't this getting ridiculous?
Many kids need to be held back because they are not ready emotionally. I realize that some parents will not admit that, but to have such strict rules expecting the kids to have skills beyond their years is sad.
I could understand if you were trying to get him into kindergarten when he was 3, but he only missed the cutoff by a week! Do the kids who made the cutoff have to know how to read and do math? Ridiculous.
@Kathy,
I contacted the school board and was told the law took effect in 2009 because a group of parents lobbied legislators to get the date moved up because too many four year olds were getting in and not ready so they were being held back.
Personally, I say we should have every child tested and if they don't meet the minimum requirement of knowing ABC's and how to count to 20, and colors, spell their names, know where they live, they can't get in. Let's just make it fair across the board because as it stands now, Jarod would have to be SMARTER than every other kindergartener in the school!
If he can already read and do math, what does he need kindergarten for? Or first grade, for that matter?
This is quite ridiculous. The schools are so strict about enforcing things that either make no sense or don't really matter, but don't do anything about what's really important.
My neice turned 5 September 13 and couldn't start this year. But I'm not sure it makes a difference. When my youngest son started school, he could read and do basic math. But they discourage this kind of advancement that they want from your grandson; by the end of the year my son could barely spell his own name.
Maybe that's why the average high school graduate only reads at the 8th grade level.
Pat,
I can understand it if the child isn't ready emotionally but what would be the threshold for that?
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