What is the Kindergarten admission cut off date in your district?

[lisareniff]

I am having such a difficult time deciding if we should send our DD4.5 to kindergarten in the fall. NY state's cut off date for enterance to kindergarten in Dec. 1st. You must be 5 by December 1st of that year, so your child could actually start while she/he is 4 if they have a fall birthday.

I was wondering what the cut off date for kindergarten was in the rest of the US. What is it in your school district? and is it the same through out your state?

Any advice? I am considering "holding her back" and having her attend a Pre-K Program this year and going to Kindergarten the following year.

 

[kbkids]

Our district's cutoff is Sept 1 - not sure if it's statewide. My son turns 5 on May 29th. I toyed with holding him back strictly from the maturity aspect of it, but I think he's academically ready to go.

 

[Beth76]

We have an early cut-off date August 1. I believe it's the earliest in the country, or at least very close. You didn't mention when your daughter's birthday is. IMO, I would consider holding back for b-days a 1-2 months before the cutoff. But beyond that they stand to be significantly older than other students when they do start.

I know with my younger son, born July 3, we will have to consider this, but not for several years. My older son is an April birthday, so he's about 3-1/2 months before the cutoff. He'll be one of the youngest in his class, but I couldn't hold him back. All of his friends plus two cousins will be starting K in the fall.

 

[Divamomto3]

In my district, it is December 31st. I think if your kid is truly "ready," you don't even have to think twice about it. You just know.

 

[Barb D]

Ours used to be December 31, but they're moving it back by one month each year. The first transition year it was Nov 30, the following year it was Oct 31, this current year was Sep 30, and I think this coming year is the last year of change with Sep 1.

DD6 turned 5 three days before the Oct 31 deadline the year she could have started K. We held her back, so she's in K this year. It was a good decision. Her preschool teacher suggested that we hold her back, and when we took her to the K evaluation (just to be sure) they agreed. She is right in the middle of the class academically this year, so I know she would have struggled if we'd sent her last year.

 

[mom23boys]

Our cut off is September 1st. We start school the Wednesday after Labor Day.

 

[MinnieM3]

August 31st. If you''re thinking about it, you probably should do it.

 

[Daxx]

NY State Kdg. teacher here. I won't tell you what to do b/c I don't know your child. Whether to hold back or not is a huge issue lately on the DIS boards! It's a tough call but you need to trust your "gut". Kdg. readiness depends on each child.

This year, I had some students who attended pre-K and some who didn't. I'm happy to say that they are all doing well and are on-target for first grade. They're a bit behind in the reading ... but that has to do w/them having a difficult time sounding out and blending words. Many parents do not help w/studying sight words or practicing reading/sounding out. I can only do so much in the time that I have! Anyway, those who didn't attend pre-K were a bit behind the others but they all managed to catch up.

I can tell you that the pre-K kids knew their alphabet letters out of sequence, could recognize numbers through 10 out of sequence, knew shapes, colors, could count to 50+, knew their name, address, phone number, parents names and birthday (month/day), could print their first name and knew how to behave in the classroom. Those who weren't in pre-K learned those things along the way and had a bit more "catching up" to do ... but managed to do it.

Personally, I feel that pre-k is very important. It's a step I wouln't miss out on. But, that's just me. Kindergarten has a curriculum that must be fulfilled and it's less socialization and more education. Having Pre-K skills helps w/Kdg. readiness ... socialization, classroom behavior, etc.

You know your child. I held my child back even though he made cut-off by a month. I just knew that, at age almost 5, he wasn't ready for Kdg. It was the best decision that I made. The extra year of pre-K really put him ahead of the ball-game. He had the self-confidence and skills that he needed. At age almost 5, he would've done "ok" in school and it might've been a struggle. I wanted more than "ok" for my child and didn't want him to struggle and then hate school. He's top of his class and he does a great job.

Your DD might be ready ... have her go to the Kdg. testing at your chosen school and ask their opinion! Good luck!

 

[poohandwendy]

Our cutoff is Sept 30. My DS's birthday is Sept 6. After consulting with his preschool teacher, I decided that even though he would be fine academically, socially he might have a problem. She agreed. (he was painfully shy then) He just went on to another year of preschool- a transition class.

Another deciding factor, for me, was that in our state they do not have to go until they are 8, but once they are enrolled you cannot just change your mind and pull them. Even after one week. If they don't make it, they have to repeat. I just figured it would be alot easier to send him when I was SURE he was ready, than send him when I was unsure. Also, he was my second child, so I already knew what he would be facing and that gave me a better idea of whether he was ready or not.

He is now 16 (will be 17 soon, a junior in the fall) and it worked out well for him. He also outgrew the shyness, and is a very outgoing and social teen, LOL. He isn't the oldest in the class either. Not sure why I worried about that, in hindsight.

I think more regrets come from sending them earlier than with sending them later (if there is any question at all). At least, that is what I have observed.

Not sure if that helps. Good luck with your decision.

 

[sha_lyn]

Aug 31 here. I believe it is state wide.
DD's Bday is beginning of Aug.
When she was in preK the teacher suggested that we either put her in an older preK or homeschool instead of sending her to K. She was tiny for her age and behind the other kids on gross and fine motor skills.

 

[frndofpooh]

Ours is September 30. We have decided to hold back our DS4 whose birthday is in the beginning of September. We were ready to send him (he is definitely academically ready) but just about everyone we talked to recommended against it - the kindergarten teachers, his preschool teachers, even the school administrators.

In talking with all of these people, they brought up a lot of valid points. First, it is very common for people in our area to hold kids (especially boys) back if they have summer birthdays. So, the kids that have not been held back have fewer peers near their age and the class ends up being normalized for older children, which can be difficult for the summer birthday child. Second, parents need to consider what may happen in the older grades when making this decision. A younger child may do very well until about 3rd or 4th grade, when the demands in terms of classwork, individual responsibility and the having to work more independently may catch up with them. These things can be difficult for even the brightest kids - it's all a matter of maturity.

All of that being said, I have a close friend who sent her son (whose birthday is in early September) to kindergarten on time and he has done quite well. He has a vivacious personality (my DS is on the shyer side) and is organized by nature. I think your child's personality can make a big difference in how well the situation works.

Have you talked to the school about your concerns? There is also a test that they might be able to administer (it's called the Giselle development test) that can gauge her developmental readiness for kindergarten. Good luck in whatever path you choose

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

10/15

 

[disneyjunkie]

I am having such a difficult time deciding if we should send our DD4.5 to kindergarten in the fall. NY state's cut off date for enterance to kindergarten in Dec. 1st. You must be 5 by December 1st of that year, so your child could actually start while she/he is 4 if they have a fall birthday.

I was wondering what the cut off date for kindergarten was in the rest of the US. What is it in your school district? and is it the same through out your state?

Any advice? I am considering "holding her back" and having her attend a Pre-K Program this year and going to Kindergarten the following year.

NYC's cutoff date isn't December 1st, it's December 31st. I wonder why there isn't a state wide cutoff date?

 

[poohandwendy]

. Second, parents need to consider what may happen in the older grades when making this decision. A younger child may do very well until about 3rd or 4th grade, when the demands in terms of classwork, individual responsibility and the having to work more independently may catch up with them. These things can be difficult for even the brightest kids - it's all a matter of maturity.

That is a really good point. While they may be on the border of being ready now and make it through, they later years may be harder because of the maturity differences.

 

[Beth76]

If you''re thinking about it, you probably should do it.

I don't think that's true. There's always going to be some bit of doubt planted by someone else. In my case it was his pre-k teacher. She didn't think he was ready (maturity wise) and that blew me away. I had no doubt in my mind that he was ready for K. Never even occurred to me to consider holding back until his teacher said this. I spent about the next month talking with teachers, principals and counselors. I finally determined to stick with my gut and send him.

Now OP didn't specify her concerns. In my son's case if he wasn't ready maturity-wise AND wasn't ready academically, I would have more considered holding back. But he's great academically, he's big for his age and he's excited for K. I didn't feel the one concern his teacher had back in February warranted keeping him back a whole year.

OP maybe if you could clarify your concerns we could give you more specific advice. But I don't see a reason to hold back "just because".

 

[mommyintn]

In TN it's September 30th. My son who just finished 1st grade has a summer birthday of June and we sent him to 1/2 day Kindergarten when he was 5. He was academically and socially ready plus he is very tall. This year I had people assuming he was in 3rd grade because of his height, I can't imagine if I had held him back and he was just in Kindergarten this year. He did struggle some (sitting still and being quiet) but to me that is Kindergarten. There were boys a year older than him who acted the same way. This year in 1st they had all matured a lot and didn't have the behavior problems. One thing to consider if your child is academically ready they may get easily bored with Kindergarten curriculum a year later. This is just what worked for us, you'll make the right decision for your child!

 

[georgina]

Our cutoff is Sept. 1. (In PA each school district can set its own date) I kept my August boy back because he had speech problems and was socially not ready. He's 13 now and I am happy with my decision. My girls I would not have kept back. It really depends on the child. It is a difficult decision. Good luck.

 

[lisareniff]

Wow! You guys are quick! I usually hang around on the DVC boards so please excuse me if this has been a topic that has been over discussed. (I didn't search, sorry!)

My DD's birthday is Sept. 18th, not real close to the cut off but still in the tail end of the year. (cut off Dec 1st) She has a lot of the pre-reading skills

The things Daxx pointed out...
I can tell you that the pre-K kids knew their alphabet letters out of sequence, Got that one down along with letter sounds and can able to idenify what letter a simple word starts with
could recognize numbers through 10 out of sequence, 6 out of 10 knew shapes, colors, Yep
could count to 50+, to 29 minus number 13
knew their name, address, phone number, parents names and birthday (month/day), doesn't really have the address/phone down
could print their first name Yep, good fine motor
and knew how to behave in the classroom.She is a calm girl with a great attention span.

My main concern is not her ability to do the "work" but her maturity. She also has an older sister, so is used to the crowds of kids and visiting school, and seperates easily. She just seems young. I know this sounds very much like a mother not wanting her little one to go to the big bad school ( and I think that's what the school thinks) but she was slow walking and slow taking (receiving speech services at 2), slow potty training. She just always seemed to have a slightly different schedule. It is more that she doesn't have the confidence in herself. She doesn't (or isn't able ) to participate to the degree one would expect in the circle time. I wonder if time would help....

 

[Talking Hands]

Ours is Sept 1. I think that is for all of FLorida.

 

[lbgraves]

In NC it is October 15. DS has a 11/14 bday. He is so far ahead of his class that we will be looking into him moving up next year. DD has a 9/4 bday & is doing just fine in Kindergarten. I was ready to hold her back but she doesn't need to.