How does your Montessori school do cut off dates for class assignment?

[indie]

My kids are in a public Montessori so we use the state cutoffs (Sept. 30). This means my son cannot enter as a three year old this year because he is a week too young. There's just no leeway here whatsoever even though developmentally I think he'd actually be better off starting this fall. It would also save us a lot of money.

Do your Montessori schools have a firm cut off date or do they assess the child more holistically?

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by indie

My kids are in a public Montessori so we use the state cutoffs (Sept. 30). This means my son cannot enter as a three year old this year because he is a week too young. There's just no leeway here whatsoever even though developmentally I think he'd actually be better off starting this fall. It would also save us a lot of money.

Do your Montessori schools have a firm cut off date or do they assess the child more holistically?

The schools I worked at were private schools and more flexible. The public schools have more strict rules (not by their choice necessarily), so you might be out of luck for that school this year.

[indie]

Oh, I know I'm out of luck. Its done by lottery and I can't enter him until he's old enough. (He's pretty much sure to get a spot at that point due to sibling priority).

I was just curious.

[sapphire_chan]

It's my understanding that if the child is a good fit, most Montessori schools will let kids in starting around 30 months.

[Drummer's Wife]

Private Montessori schools - yes, they will definitely allow younger than 3 yo's in a 3-6 classroom - especially if they have previous M experience. Most go on a case-by-case (and space) basis, though.

We area also at a Public Montessori school and my 3 yo will be starting in a 3-6 class in the fall (even though it's public, we still have to pay tuition until Kindergarten). Anyhow, yes, they use the districts cut-off date, which I believe is the same as yours (my kids' have March b-days, so it's not an issue for us).

[onlyboys]

Our public Montessori school follows the district's cut-off date of September 1st as well.

For our family, that meant that two of my boys didn't start in the 3-6 class until they were almost four. Honestly, I don't regret it at all. They still got to benefit from the 3 year cycle, and while we might have missed a little of that ideal age opportunity, I feel that they have excelled by being just a smidgen older than the other kids. My boys birthdays are on October, btw.

[indie]

My daughter was also born a week after the cutoff and I didn't mind that she started at almost four. But for my son, not only is he ready, but if he had been born a week earlier we could save thousands of dollars on childcare. Our public school also charges for 3/4 year olds, but there is a sliding scale so the rates would be much more affordable for our family.

It also feels kind of ironic that he could have gone this Fall if I had been induced instead of waiting. It seems even crazier with my daughter who came a week and a half past her due date due to being in a poor position. (Due date was several days before the cutoff.) She seems to be so much older than the other kids who entered with her as three year olds.

The upside is not worrying about getting them potty trained on a deadline.

[chekhovgirl]

The general rule around year is 2 years 9 months, but as private schools, they're flexible. Our public cutoff is September 1st.

[RiverTam]

Our primary classes at our school take children at 2.5. If there is space, they will start a child in the middle of the year, if that child is 2.5 years old. (We often don't have space.)

[mattemma04]

They seem to use age somewhat,but observe and consider the child's ability and interactions with others more. My dd could have gone into upper el when she started,but ability-wise and being new to M she was put into lower el to start off.

I would ask the school to reconsider if that is what you feel would be best.