California is changing the kindy cut-off

[LuckyMommaToo]

Phasing it in to be five by Sept. 1.
http://www.senatorsimitian.com/entry...s_legislature/

I am relieved, although my kids will be thru K by that point. I saw SO many four-year-olds struggling in my son's K last year.
-e

[Linda on the move]

What was the old cut off?

[LuckyMommaToo]

The current cut-off is five by Dec. 1.

[Bokonon]

My school district has a developmental kindergarten for kids turning 5 between June 1 and Dec. 1, and it's absolutely perfect for my son. He'll be in regular kindergarten next year, but he is too old (age and ability) for another year of preschool.

It seems like there is a need for this kind of program everywhere, especially with more and more parents "red-shirting" their kids. And I was happy to see that there are even a few girls in my son's class!

[limabean]

Wow! I was hoping they'd do this a few years ago and save me the headache of deciding whether to send DS (October birthday). We ended up sending him, which turned out to be the right choice, but part of me just wanted the decision taken out of my hands. Of course, now the worry will just slide a few months earlier, with parents of "summer birthdays" doing all the fretting.

[whatsnextmom]

I''ll believe it when I see it actually happen. This was supposed to happen in 2003 as well but never did. I also don't think the 2 year kindie program will actually happen either with our budget problems.

Personally, I'm grateful my kids had the later cut-off. Having to wait for kindie at 6 would have been a nightmare for them.

[EFmom]

I'd hate that. Both my kids have bdays that fall such that they turned five during the first half of K, and they were entirely ready for school. It would be a complete waste of their time to keep them out of school another year.

[Heavenly]

I wouldn't be happy with that. Here (Ontario) the cut-off is December 31 and I know many kids who are born in the fall and they have all done fine in school.

[LuckyMommaToo]

Huh. I guess it's partly what you're used to. Where I grew up (Ohio) the cut-off is Aug. 31, so when I moved here, the idea of sending a 4-y.o. to K seemed really strange.

And having volunteered pretty extensively in DS's K class last year, I saw how intense it is now. NOthing like K when I was a kid. Most of the 4 y.o.'s in his class struggled. So that's where my perspective is coming from.
-e

[Geofizz]

I would mourn the loss of flexibility afforded by a late cutoff. We are wishing my 4 yr 10 mo son could go to kindergarten right now, which he could in CA, but not in OH.

Originally Posted by LuckyMommaToo

Huh. I guess it's partly what you're used to. Where I grew up (Ohio) the cut-off is Aug. 31, so when I moved here, the idea of sending a 4-y.o. to K seemed really strange.

As a point of detail, Ohio mandates that the cutoff be between Aug 1 and Sept 30, leaving the date up to each district. If we were to live 2 blocks south of where we do, my daughter would be in second right now instead of third.

I have noticed that perception matters a lot. I have a Nov birthday, started in CA on time, and did just fine (indeed, skipping 3rd). Around here in OH, many of my neighbors consider sending a 4 yr 10 mo old off to kindergarten - a boy no less - nothing short of barbaric.

[EVC]

My late October dd just started K and I am SO glad for the current December cut off which allowed her to start this year. She is more than ready for K both academically and socially and I would have been bummed if she had had to wait a whole additional year to start. Although it's only be two weeks, she LOVES going to school and her teacher has already told me several times what an enthusiatic learner she is. Maybe things will change with time, but right now, it is really working for her.

Hopefully there will be some flexibility with the change to the September cut off.

[One_Girl]

Originally Posted by EFmom

I'd hate that. Both my kids have bdays that fall such that they turned five during the first half of K, and they were entirely ready for school. It would be a complete waste of their time to keep them out of school another year.

I felt this same way when my dd had to wait for kindergarten in our district. They are very strict about the cut off. I think that for my dd this has turned out to be a good thing though. She likes to be the kid who knows what she is doing and being older as well as learning stuff at home has made her that child. When she is the kid who struggles she resists learning and it is hard to teach her. If she has just a little more knowledge about a subject than the other kids though she goes a long way and eagerly seeks out more knowledge.

[Linda on the move]

I really think we ought to have a national cutoff. For families who move (such as military families) the current lack of a cohesive system is just nuts.