How to enroll into Kindergarten after the cut-off date?

Question

My son's teacher highly recommends trying. His Birthday is Dec.3. where do I start? whom do I need to talk to? What are my right?

Answer 1

Where do you live?  Private or Public?

That might make a difference.  Call the school and ask.  Find out what types of evaluations would have to be completed before you can petition to have your child enrolled.  

Unless your child is SUPER Gifted and I would recommend waiting until he was 5.5.  I am not saying that your child is not very smart, from what you say I think he would be, but remember it is not how smart they are but if they are socially and emotionally ready.  

Make sure you talk to the teachers in the kindergarten he would go to.  The worst thing to do would be put him in when he is not ready, that could discourage learning.

We just went through the kindergarten open house at our day-care and this is where I got my info.  Our child is the same age almost.  We are waiting to hear what the Kindergarten teacher says.  I know she is ready intellectually, but the teacher's going to work with her on the social and emotional level.  She says she can teach them anything as long as they are ready to learn.  Some kids need the play time to develop their learning skills and the worst thing you could do would be to push them.  This is what we were told and it does make sense to me.

Remember as a boy he will be much smaller than the other boys if he is only 4 when  he starts school.  

Do what you think is best for your child.  You will know.  Just make sure you talk to a lot of people to make sure you have all the information you need to make the best decision.

Answer 2

for us we had to get our son tested with a school district psychologist for $150.  If they can pass the test and the principal of the school agrees they're in. if not sorry.  check with the district office.  they might have a policy of how far pass the cutoff they'll allow (ie a couple weeks ok, couple months sorry)

Answer 3

check with your school district -they have testing they do for early admissions.  It will be up to the results of those tests.  If not, then don't fret -you don't want to push him into something he's not ready for.