This might be helpful for families who relocate to Texas during the summer months and may be scrambling to align other pre-K options that are already completely full. TEC 29.153(a). (n.d.). Early entrance decisions (for entering kindergarten before turning 5) are left to the discretion of the local school board. Broadnax says this can have long-term effects with students feeling good about school, which means more engagement, more progress, and less likelihood of dropping out or disengaging over time. In these instances, Dr. Boose says, many schools offer additional tutoring to help the child catch up to classmates. Use the state-specific information below as a kindergarten calculator to help determine when your child can start kindergarten at an NHA school. New York State Education Law (Section 3205) states that children who turn 6 years old on or before December 1 are required to attend instruction in September of that school year. Several factors affect a childs readiness to start kindergarten, including emotional, social, physical, developmental, home environments, preschool experience, and reading skills. How old does a child need to be to start kindergarten?
endstream
endobj
601 0 obj
<>stream
There are no early entry age exemptions or waivers for kindergarten. "What you will need to assess is something a bit deeper and harder to ascertain," explains Dr. Elizabeth Matheis, a licensed clinical psychologist and certified school psychologist. Calculate Your Daily Needs with Our Free Calculators! So its critical that parents understand the culture and approach of the school theyre considering as they ask themselves, Is my child ready?. All public schools in the state must conduct age-appropriate kindergarten assessment to determine the placement of students at the instructional level. American Academy of Pediatrics. They focus on the basics, like letter recognition, number skills, and social-emotional learning. Overall, he says, social and academic abilities even out around third grade for all children. They should also be able to sit still for short periods of time to listen to the teacher, and they should engage in positive behavioral interactions with their peers. I admit, I didn't love the thought of my daughter being a youngin' in, say, fifth grade with redshirted boys who are a year (and then some) older, or sending my 17-year-old baby off to college.