My daughter's b'day is in late october, I don't wont her to start school @ 6.. are there any alternatives?

Question

Her b'day is the 17th, which means when she turns 5 she'll have to wait another year before she can start school. She's only 2 right now, and is advanced (per doctor/teachers...Myself :) I'm not sure if I want to put her in public school, but I know I can't afford the pricey private schools, does anyone have other options for us????

Answer 1

I'm glad youre thinking of your daughter's future, but i'd give her some time. She may be advanced now, but things can change. Cut off dates are big problems. Some places they are Dec 31, other's it's October. If your daughter is still well ahead of the game come the summer before her 5th birthday and the school will not let her start kindergarten, i'd suggest home schooling her for that year. The public school cannot not accept her the following year for the first grade regardless of her age if she has already completed the work for kindergarten. I know some people who have also sent their child to kindgarden the following year, tutored them a little at home and had them skip the first grade. I wouldn't suggest doing this because 1st grade is a VERY important grade and she'd be away from the new friends she made the previous year, but it's an option.
You have a few years to go, but keep this in mind. Best wishes with your daughter and good luck! =]

Answer 2

The cut off date in your state maybe be earlier than October. In my state (AL) a child must turn 5 before or on August 31 or they cannot register at a public school.

One alternative would definitely be to home school for the first year and then transfer her to "real" school for first grade. Another could be sending her to a church kindergarten for her first year and then moving her. (or even leaving her there if that is an option) These schools usually will make exceptions more easily that public school and the children benefit from the environment and the smaller class sizes. The tuition for these schools is nowhere near the cost of private school.

Answer 3

You have totally screwed up your internal clock, and have something equivalent to jet lag. What you need to do is retrain yourself to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. However, you should have started several weeks ago, and not waited until two days before school starts. It may take a while now to recondition yourself, but you can start tonight by going to bed at 10:00 p.m. Take something to help you nod off, like melatonin or Lunesta. You should fall asleep within 15 minutes or so and wake up at your normal time during the school year. Do this for a couple nights until you get back on schedule. Are you still living at home? What do your parents think about your nocturnal wakefulness? This lack of sleep can have serious health repercussions, so I would suggest you not keep company with the night owls next summer when school's out, or when you get a job.

Answer 4

This question is one I've personally been involved with. My birthday was early fall (like your daughters), and my parents put me in school just turning five.

As I got older, I found out one of my classmates had a birthday four days before mine at first glance. We found out later it was a full one YEAR and four days before mine. The reason we found this out is because she got her drivers license, and I was left wondering how in the heck she was able to do it at 15. Truth be told she was 16. Long story short, her parents waited the full year to put her into school.

The thing I noticed the most about this situation was quite literally that I noticed nothing. She was no more advanced, smarter, bigger, more mature or anything for that matter than I was.

In fact it was really kind of cool being the youngest in the class. That is until a girl 12 days younger than me, and in my grade, moved into town. She actually ended up being the valedictorian for our class.

You would be surprised how much power you have as a parent. Even though the school district 'rules' may state a certain birthdate limit for school entrance, it can always be wavered out of. This is what happens when you hear of students entering college at 16. They usually get an early jump on kindergarten and excel through a grade or two.

I kind of got long-winded, but I wouldn't hesitate a bit putting your child into school just turning five. It personally didn't effect me a bit, in fact I think it helped me.

Answer 5

As far as public schools go many private schools have scholorships for children that score high and are poor. And as far as school starting depending on your state i think she will be able to start school when she is 5 turning 6 but if you feel she is to young just keeper in Kindergarden another year

Answer 6

depends on the district, some have a cut off of October 1, some of December 1. You can petition the district to let her in when she is 4, and ask for a 6 week review to see if she is keeping up with her class. Even if she ends up repeating kindergarten she will benefit.

Answer 7

honestly depending on the school requirements that is how it is. My daughter has been ready for Kindergarten for a year now, ever since she graduated from preschool. Since then I have been working with her from home. Unfortunately the school doesn't allow her there until she meets the b'day deadline. Hers is October 26th. I understand. But there is not much you can do if your school won't budge on the date.

Answer 8

In my state PA it is not optional a student has to be 6 on or before the date you register your child for their 1st year of school public or private. If she starts 1st grade and can test into a higher level class for reading math or science they are able to accommodate gifted children similar to how they place children with learning disabilities in spacial classes. My birthday is in December I hated seeming older than all my class mates especially in middle school.

Answer 9

I think alot of the school districts have their own rules. They may offer testing to see if she should be in school a year early and be with most of the kids her age.

I think in my town we have the option of 2 years to put them in meaning someone who has an early birthday can be held back a year to be with students their age and kids who have a late birthday can start early. It sounds silly. lol

My daughter has a late October birthday too. Shes 3.5 and Im still unsure of what we're going to do.

Answer 10

Sometimes schools will let you pay the tuition at a public school if the child is born the first three months after the cut off. you just need to talk to them. you could also look into a charter school.