Kindergarten Enrollment Question

I can only speak from personal experience, but I am a Dec. 31 baby. I went to kindergarten at a private school (Montessori) when I was 4 1/2. After that I went to 1st grade at public school - my b-day was past the cut-off date, but my school let me in because I had already completed kindergarten - they didn't make me repeat kindergarten just because of my age.

My son now also attends Montessori. I know that his particular school is pretty lax about the age thing - they test the kids before enrollment and admit kids based on how they do on the tests more than age. I mean, they're not going to put a 3 year old in kindergarten, but if a kid is just a month or two past the cutoff, they don't care as long as the kid is bright, both academically and socially.

My son attended kindergarten at Tomorrow Montessori, off Almaden expressway in San Jose. I chose to start my son in 1st grade when he was 5 1/2, after talking to his kindergerten teacher and because his school allowed it. More than halfway through the year, I think I made the right decision. Both my husband and I struggled in school when we were bored, he is the same. I am not sure what to do with my daughter, yet.
That being said, other parents have had public schools that would not allow their children to enroll in 1st grade, at least one because he was just turning 5 in august. My son turned 6 this March. He is also very tall for his age (he is often mistaken for 7yrs). His best friend's mother put him into kindergarten at his public school. We bth feel that we made the right decision, based on our respective children. I will say that the beginning of this year was a great struggle, for many reasons, but in our case, not because of age.
About me: a high school biology teacher, who does NOT believe in pushing kids - I've seen the negatives of kids overstressed, as well as gifted kids who get bored and unmotivated.

I believe kindergarten is optional.

When she is 6, she is eligible for 1st gr., but if she has already completed kinder, she is eligible when she enters the next year. Then you enroller her into a private K program and then move her to the public 1st gr.

Stephanie

Hi B.,
Don't deprive her of a full year of Kindergarten--either enroll her in the Fall, or wait until the following year. By mid-year kids have made friends, established routines, and are half way thru the curriculum. My vote is to hold her back until next year. Find a pre-school that has a pre-kindergarten, and put her in that. N.--a retired school teacher with a December birthday and a daughter that went thru the same thing!

Hi B.,
I have heard that it is possible to enroll a child that is born after the cut off date in private school, however, I don't know which one. Primary Plus in Campbell has an elementary school. You can also check out religious private schools.
Hope this helps...
Nessa

Check into Action Day Primary plus Amber campus. My daughter is a Dec 5th baby, and she missed the cut-off date, I couldnt even get a call back from the Public school district. She was in preschool there, and they did their own Kinder evaluation and she moved to Kinder in Feb 2008 and started 1st grade in Sept 2008.

Send me a messege if you want to talk more about the experience, or want some contact information.tuition information!

L.

Hi there,
I am all about being a strong advocate for your child, or in this case, your neice. If you feel strongly about this, you should pursue it.

I just want to let you know, the reason so many schools will not bend on the age requirement reaches far beyond the Kindergarten year. The school I used to work at found that although many younger children show readiness for kindergarten, once they hit about fourth grade, they really start to struggle to keep up with their older classmates (not all of them, though).

Having said that, no school system can know what's right for every child. If you really think early kindergarten is right for her, do what you can to make it happen. It might mean that she'll need extra support later on in her schooling, but it sounds like she's got a lot of support from a wonderful aunt.

Hi,

I just went thru this whole ordeal recently. Although my daughters b-day is later, dec. 21. She is sooooo ready in all aspects just like your niece. The district will not budge. I went to homeschooling and they follow the districts regulations. I went to private schools and they will not budge. I even brought up having her start in Jan. and they did not budge. Also, with that, the school has to have an opening and most of the time K classes are full. And because all curriculum was the same for preK and pre school, we decided to keep her home and work with her. She is now doing first grade math and reading. Now my next battle is what is the school going to do to keep her from getting bored????? you can keep trying to call and maybe you will get lucky.
Good luck.

My only piece of advice is to consider the long-term impact of starting kindergarten early, ie. going to college at 17, physical maturity, competing in sports, etc. I know many families who actually use the first day of school as the cut-off for starting kindergarten so your niece could be much younger than her peers in her grade. I know many excellent teachers who would be able to keep an advanced/older kindergartener interested and challenged in school.

I am sure your niece's caregivers have given this a lot of thought. I wish you and your family the best of luck.