Is it common for a child who missed the cutoff to be able to start kindergarden a year early? How often will?

Question

schools do this? what would I need to do to try to get him to start early?

Answer 1

I was sent the school after the cutoff and I have become one of the top students whos been recieving all these academic awards. Maybe its just me but, my little sis did it to and shes just like me. Go for it!

Answer 2

All the time in our school districs. Like six people in my class.

Answer 3

We sent my daughter and her birthday was 1 day before the cutoff.  Worst mistake we ever made, we should of waited that extra year.  We ended up keeping her back in 2nd grade to help her catch up as most of the kids were almost a year to a year and a half older than her.  Give him the advantage of the extra time and don't rush it.

Answer 4

In my home district when I was that age. . . there wasn't anything you could do.  They strongly believed in arbitrary cut-off dates at the time.  Even if I was already reading at a first-grade level or better, it wouldn't have mattered. I just didn't go to a public school. . . do you have that kind of option as a back-up plan?

Whether you can do it will depend on the administration.  You won't know until you ask, and some sort of proof why he's ready will help his case.  Some people are fine with it, and others seem to think that kids who are younger than everyone else will never fit in and/or will eventually fall behind.  (sigh -- I'm still waiting for that one now in grad school, myself)  There's not a whole lot you can do if you have the latter case other than wait or look for another school.

Answer 5

In my state the public school districts won't allow it, a very cut and dry rule.  So I took my daughter to a charter school for Kindergarten.  They let her in on a 'trial basis'- to be assessed at the end of the first quarter and if the teacher didn't feel she's ready or performing then she would have to withdraw.  She did great!  Is in 5th grade now, the youngest in her grade level- but fits right in, no maturity problems, no academic problems.  

It really depends on YOUR child though- do you think they are ready?

Answer 6

In our district, never.  Cutoffs are there for a reason, and while there might be a whole range of skills levels between 4 and 6 years old, generally, I wouldnt want my childs kindergarten teacher having to pay extra attention to a child who might be behind, socially, intellectually, etc because they are younger.  Id look into other enrichment type activities.  Some districts even offer this for little or no charge, a pre-K type thing.

Answer 7

Don't.  He will be much better off if you wait the additional year to start him.

Answer 8

I'm really thankful that we didn't try to get my daughter to start early.  We do have a private school that doesn't bother with the cut off, but teaches by the child's level.  It boiled down to a financial decision, but I'm glad we went with our public schools system.

My daughter was born December 18, 2001 and we're just finishing up Kindergarten.  I'm glad we waited because she gets to feel like the big kid in class, and she's mature enough that she's ready to learn :)

Answer 9

Some districts do, and some won't.

You have two options...

1-Go and talk to the superintendent.  If you believe your child deserves to be in K this year, you'll need to advocate loud and strong for them.  You may need to pay for an outsider to evaluate your child for K readiness, though, which can be pricey.

2-Private K, which will force the district to accept your kid into 1rst the following year (what my husband's parent's did).

Answer 10

You can try.  My sister got into kindergarten after the cut off.  It was hard because her birthday was in the summer.  They ended up letting her in the previous class.  Try and see what you can do. We went to public school by the way.

Answer 11

In my district, it's never allowed (in others you can test in early ... call your school and ask if you really decide to do it).  Consider that even though your child may be intellectually ready, whether they're socially ready, as a year makes a big difference at that age and you don't want him excluded because other kids perceive him as the "baby."  Also consider that when he's starting middle school or high school at some point it's going to be reason to be teased if he's developing totally normally for his age but a year behind his classmates.