my child is 24 days off from the school's cut off date how can i get him into kindergarden?

Question

I have heard that if i put him in a private school i will beable to enroll him in the first grade when he is 5 . he is 4 sept he will be 5 24 days after the cut off date i'm afaid he will be behind

Answer 1

My oldest daughter missed the cutoff by about the same amount of time. We resolved the issue by enrolling her a year later in Kindergarten, then once enrolled, we had her jumped to first grade. Of course, she was already reading by the time she started kindergarten, and was completely bored with the children who were not at the same level. You have to be sure that your child is of the developmental and mental age to be able to handle the change, increase in homework, and cognitive level of an older classroom. Children in kindergarten can vary by as much as 5 years in developmental levels! The other main component was that the school we chose to place her into kindergarten at was a charter school. Charter schools, in my opinion, tend to be more progressive and lean towards the best needs of the child... not whether or not the administration wants to hassel with moving a child up a grade. I would have gotten much more run-around with a regular public school, with delay after delay in moving her. At the charter school (which is still considered a public school, is free to attend, but run by parents) all we had to do was state our case to the kindergarten teacher, and the next week our daughter was moved to the first grade. For boys, it is usually a good idea to wait rather than push them into a situation they may not be ready to emotionally handle. Boys particularly tend to have more difficulty with attention span, sitting at a desk, and fine motor activities. As a preschool teacher, I generally suggest that boys delay kindergarten until almost 6. Before that, most boys are not ready to be able to handle the tasks asked of them in a classroom that requires a lot of desk work. Moving them too soon into a classroom can result in behaviour issues. If your child is not developmentally ready to sit for long periods of time and concentrate, I would not place him in a traditional school setting just yet. 5 is too young for a boy to be placed into a first grade setting, unless he is exceptionally bright and emotionally mature. The fact is, boys just tend to mature later than girls, and it would be to your son's advantage to delay kindergarten for a year. Of course, you know your child's abilities far better than anyone else, but ask your child's preschool teacher (if he goes) but ultimately, use your own judgement.I suggest having him enrolled into a preschool program to help get him emotionally/mentally prepared for the rigors of school.

Answer 2

In our public school you must abide by the cut off date, but then you can take a test and skip to the next grade in 1st grade. I do know someone who enrolled their child in catholic preschool and they did take her (12 days) for kindergarden at 4. If anything your son will be ahead being older, but I know what you mean. I recently read an article about people keeping their kids back a year so they will be the biggest and the smartest. It all evens out after a few years and that doesn't really help the kid. Good luck.

Answer 3

Most schools will not allow you to enroll your child early no matter how close they are, and some have similar rules for 1st grade (they have to be 6 by a certain date). My son's birthday is 11 days after the cut-off date and my daughter's birthday is *1* day after the cut-off date. Your son will be a little older than most of the kids in his class, but he won't be "behind". If they make an exception for 24 days why not the kid who's birthday is 30 days after?? That's why they have a cut-off date ~ they have to draw the line somewhere.

Answer 4

IN my district you would not be able to enroll in first grade. You would have to send him to private school for Kinder and first grade. He could then go to second grade.

I really hate to see you trying to rush your little guy into school. My opinion (and this is just my opinion and many of the other first grade teachers that I work with) applies if your son is the average summer baby boy that walks into my classroom in first grade. Very few are ready to start reading and writing. These little boys need more time to play. (There are always exceptions.)

If you wanted to put him into private Kinder I would say go ahead. At the end of the year talk to the educator and see if he or she thinks you little guy is ready for first grade. (Our kinder. are reading and writing by the end of the year.) If he is, then enroll him in private first. If he isn't then send him to public kinder. He won't think he has failed. Just tell him that was a warm up school for real school. I definitely wouldn't try to spend long evenings making sure he masters skills that are not developmentally appropriate.

I would rather my child be the oldest in the class any day than the baby. I have three boys and have been teaching first grade for 18 years. Even my late spring boys have matured an extra year before I put them in Kindergarten.

Answer 5

Advice from a kindergarten teacher...
It all depends on what state you live in, but the age requirements were put there for a reason. These years are so important for your son. Not only for academics, but socially. Preschool is a great time to develop social and communication skills through interactive play. Going to first grade too early will do your child a disservice by skipping this developmentally appropriate time for him. Don't worry about him being behind. Teachers instruct each child based on their individual ability level, so your son's needs will be met whatever academic level he is on. I've taught kids that can read on a 2nd grade level in kindergarten. Your school should also have enrichment programs available should he qualify. Don't cheat him out of this fun and important time!!

Answer 6

I am not sure about where you live but the cut off dates here are the same for private school and public. I work at a private one and teach Preschool. I would not worry about you child being behind think about it this way would you rather put him in Kindergaerten and it be too much for him that you may have to pull him out. I have had parents to do that and it is worse on the child. However if you are still determined to send him to Kindrgarten if he went to prechool try getting the teachers recomendation some school will accept that. But also remember to listen to that recomendation yourself, putting him in to soon could back fire on you. Good Luck in your decision.

Answer 7

You should deal directly with the administration of the public school where he would go. Sometimes they will waive the requirement.
I imagine each school district handles this differently.
I myself started kindergarten when I was still only 4 years old, and I missed the cut-off date by 2 weeks. My mother got permission for me to go anyway. My daughter missed the cut-off by 3 weeks, and I did not even try to get her in that year...I didn't think she was ready. Good luck.

Answer 8

Hmm well my birthday is a month after your son's and I went to a private kindergarten (started when I was 4) so yes I guess it is possible in a private school. This was a long time ago though and things might have changed but I doubt it has.

Answer 9

I had the same problem with my son. He missed the cut off by 1 day. I tried everything, but they wouldn't let him start. He complained of being bored in 1st & 2nd grade (because he wasn't being challenged enough). 3rd grade was much better. He gets to help the other kids understand their work and gets to help the teacher out more often. Also, he is bigger than the other kids in his class therefore doesn't really get picked on.

Answer 10

What's the hurry? Let him enjoy another year of life before being in the pressure cooker known as school. He will probably be better off in the long run. He won'tbe behind, if anything he will be ahead of others in his class the next year.