Kindergarten cut-off dates (could be a debate, I suppose)

[sjh801]

Well, I have just finished reading all of the posts. There have been many good points made. The most important ones remind us that every child is an individual. Period.

As a first grade teacher, I have been a part of the decision making process in some capacity every year. The parents and the teacher need to communicate. There is no one right answer to the magic age for a child to enter kindergarten. Regardless of the cut off date there are always the youngest and the oldest children in the class. And in the primary grades the difference is noticeable. I do recommend that if you have a child close to the cut off date (either side), that you seriously consider the matter of whether or not to enroll your child in school. It is much better to start a child later than to retain them at a later time because they were started too young. In my 30 years of teaching, a child is most successful when the parents and the classroom teacher work cooperatively together for the benefit of the student.

One more comment to the poster who talked about it being easier to teach a class where all of the students were nearly the same. It would be easier, but that will never happen. There is no such thing as a class where everyone is at the same level, no matter what someone tells you. I know that I have never had a class where there were not as many different levels as there were children. Each child is unique and learns in his or her own way. I am not being idealistic, but realistic. A good teacher always adapts to the needs of his/her students. Poor teachers, who shouldn't be teachers, are the ones who think they can teach the same thing, the same way to every class, every year.

Off my soapbox.

 

[Snowysmom]

The cut off date in my town is August 31. However, state law says that you need to be in school the year in which you turn 6 by Dec. 31, it can be kindergarten or first grade so state law supercedes local law. We used this to get our older son into 1st grade when he was not turning 6 until October. He did attend a private kindergarten where standardized testing showed he was reading at a 2nd grade level. In fact, in all areas he was at a first or second grade level. Plus, he was socially ready. His first grade teaacher said he was 6 going on 35. But, we based what we did on what was right for him. He graduated from high school 6th in his class. He would have been bored if we had waited. There is no way I would have done that for my younger son. He has an August birthday so he went to kindergarten a few weeks after turning 5. Now in 10th grade he has done very well academically and socially. The first week in kindergarten was hard but he settled down. The youngest kids in a class are not necessarily the ones who are immature and causing problems. In both my sons' classes many of the problem children were the older ones. Our town will no longer let you put a child into first grade early unless they have attended kindergarten and pass tests given by the principal of the school they will attend. That makes sense because each child is different. What is right for one child may not be right for another.

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by BrerMom
When is the cut-off for your state and do you think we should have a national cut-off?

Just in the posts on this thread I've seen age cut-off dates anywhere from 7/1 to 12/31

So yes, I think having a more consistent standard would be a big help.


My youngest DD made the cutoff date here by just a few days. I did hold her out and have her wait. It was a complicated decision and I won't go into all of the reasoning behind it - but one factor applies directly to the OP's question:

Part of my reasoning was that we have done our share of moving and I would not be suprised if we do so again before she is out of school. I would have no problem with her being one of the youngest - I would have a problem if we move to a state where the cut off was several months earlier and she ends up being not just one of the youngest - but THE youngest and the youngest by months!