Early Enrollment for Kindergarten - Wake Forest,NC

She would have to be tested and would have to test at a 1st grade level in order to be admitted to Kindergarten. These were the requirements when I was still teaching 2 years ago. BTW Kindergarten is not required and children are not required to be enrolled in school in NC until they are 7.

Good Luck!

When the date was Oct 15th my son missed it by 4 weeks. I thought like you that I felt he was ready. I, however, decided not to send him early and I have been very happy with my decision. He's bigger he's taller he's a leader not a follower. My daughter's birthday is Sept 2nd. As aggrivated as I am about them changing the cut off I am going to wait to send her too. Once they start school it goes so fast. Why not keep them young a little longer. Hope this helps.

My husband started school before he turned 5. He was always the last one to do everything--last to get a learners permit, last to get his driver's license, smaller compared to his classmates. He made B's in school and played 4 sports. He started college at age 17. He was playing college football against 22 year olds. He always felt like he would have been better at sports if he had been a year older. He also felt like he would have been better at his school work if he had been a little more mature when he started kindergarten.

My son on the other hand was like your daughter--He just missed the cut off date. He was always the oldest in his grade. He was the first one to do everything--the first to get his learners permit, the first to get his drivers license, etc. He was developmentally older and more ready to start school. He was a leader in his classes, made really good grades, and was a great athlete. He was the Valedictorian of the 8th grade, graduated from high school with an honors diploma, and played on state championship football and track teams.

Be patient. It does not hurt your child to be older and more mature than their peers. It actually really helped my son. I wanted to start him early because he was smart, ready for school, and bored in pre-school. My husband would not agree to it and he was right. It gave my son an advantage academically and in sports to be the oldest in his grade and not the youngest.

There are very specific guidelines in most school districts about early K entry - check your county school system's website for it. Usually they require a private evaluation by a psychologist, and they require that your child score at the 98th percentile or above on IQ and achievement tests because they consider it the same as skipping a grade. These are very difficult criteria to meet, even if your child is really bright. If your daughter isn't reading sentences yet and not adding and subtracting, I wouldn't both with the testing. It is also very expensive (usually in the range of $500 to $800 depending on who you see) and there is no guarantee it will be helpful. Even if she meets the 98th percentile, there's still no guarantee the school will accept her either - it's a team decision.

Another thing to think about is what will happen when your daughter is older. She will want to hang out with older kids and older boys when she is a teenager, she won't drive as early as her friends, in college she won't be able to get into the clubs her friends are going to because she's not 18 or 21 yet. She may not be as mature as the other kids either, or she may think she is more mature than she really is. If you really think she's advanced, you can get some great resources for gifted kids online that you can share with her pre-K teachers and you can take her to enrichment activities when she's home with you. Just some food for thought - good luck with your decision!

K. - Don't. The difficulties don't show up for several years. At five...all the things that need to come together have not...and around fourth or fifth...the results start showing.

Reading anything by educator Dr. Raymond Moore will help - but if you like techy proof...School Can Wait or Better Late than Early would be a good ones. Your library should be able to get them.

In the meantime, since you are a SAHM...there are some really fun learning tools out there - ask a home schooler. An hour - hour a half a day of academic stuff is not too much for that age...but not seven hours!

J.
www.joyboudreau.com

K.,
I haven't had to face that problem with my own children. They both met the age requirements to start school in NC at the age of 4. However, there are somedays I wish I had waited to start them by a year. They are among the YOUNGEST in their classes and although they don't struggle academically, there are some gaps in social/emotional behavior, that only close with age. (We are a military family and we have moved away from NC.) I strongly suggest that you just go by the age guidelines and relax.

Here is my story. I was the child who could read somewhere between turning 4 and 5. I missed the cut off to begin school when I was 4 going on 5 by about 30 days....My parents followed the cut off, didn't fight it and I waited the year. I did fine. I am sure there were days I was "bored" with the work, and I know I finished some work ahead of my classmates, I remember ALWAYS having a book to read when I was done with my assigned work. There were other perks as well in younger grades (getting to run errands for the teacher, going to a different grade class for certain subjects, etc). The best thing was in High School, I was one of the first kids in my class to get my Driver's License. In High School the fields were a little different, as a Freshman I was taking most of my classes with a few other Freshmen like me, and sophomores and a few juniors and seniors, and I was able to take AP classes as well. And, I did get into and graduate from a pretty great college.

So don't worry about your daughter academically...I would just go with the cut off age and let your daughter enjoy being a kid one more year. As long as you are proactive with her as she goes through school, she will be great. She will not be held back at all.

Good Luck!

T.

Honestly I say wait a year. There is really a big difference between just turned 5 and a 5 1/2 yr old or almost 6 yr old.

Keep her home and homeschool her in preschool. Rod & Staff has some good workbooks for preschool. Sonlight has a great preschool program and so does Winter Promise. I've heard lots of good about Five in a Row and My Father's World as well.

That way when you do send her next year she will be more than ready and academically and socially she will be more mature.

God Bless!

My children were also very ready for school at a young age, & are now 16 & 18. Look at what you might want for them as teenagers. Taking someone else's advice, I enrolled my girls late so that they were turning 7 at the beginning of 1st grade. I put one in Kindergarten at her preschool, & then Kindergarten the next yr at her Catholic elementary school... which is what I would still recommend. The other went to TK, & then kindergarten, both at her Catholic elementary school.

As older teens in their class, they had the maturity to handle situations so much better, & make better decisions. And we didn't have to worry about them wanting to do what older kids in their class were possibly mature enough to do. Their age seemed to be appropriate with many of the events that came their way, for they were almost a yr older than several of their classmates. A major factor was their schoolwork. With their brains still growing, their wiring was 1 more yr ahead, which is better for subjects like algebra. Now we have them 1 extra yr of their lives to live at home before going off to college. This same process is working to their advantage as they prepare & enter college.

D. M. Focht
"Shaklee -Creating Healthier Lives & Environment"
visit: www.Shaklee.net/Focht
______________________________________________

My son's birthday is also Sept. 30 and we had to wait. Some states are really strict about it, but others have some flexibility so it really depends on your state and district whether you even can enroll in the public schools.

Waiting did not seem bad for our son, a year in preschool helped him a lot socially. You may be able to get around it by enrolling in a private kindergarten in your area (some preschools have them, but it should be accredited so the public system will count it). Private kindergartens usually have looser dates and the option for the kid to stay two years if you want. And it can be really good to start the kid in a smaller program. That's something you can check on. Good luck.

They are pretty strict on the school cut off dates. Both my kids missed it by just days. I teach preschool and I usually recommend to the parents of students with summer or early fall birthdays that just barely make the cut off date to wait that extra year. They do not have to be in a school system until they are 7 so you have several options. You can just keep her home and have extra mommy time or you can look into local preschools. I recommend Sunshine Friends in Berea. I teach there, we are a private christian preschool and we teach a set curriculum. We are starting our 26th year. The school has an excellent reputation with the local school systems. Something else to think about if your child starts school at 5 when she is in high school and all her friends are getting their license and starting to date etc... she will still be almost a year younger and not yet old enough to drive.

I worked in education for 5 years (in Kindergarten) and as an educator I suggest waiting. I know your daughter may seem to be ready, but I've seen so many come in at "almost" or "barely" 5 and the difference is huge. Maybe not in the academic aspect, but socially. This may not be the case with your daughter and she may be completely ready in all aspects and you may want to have her tested in to K. The process usually has a fee to it and the school usually asks that the child be an entire year ahead score-wise on the exam. This means that your daughter would have to be performing on a level that would put her at the end of Kindergarten, or beginning of 1st grade to qualify. In other words, they make it almost impossible for children to test in to Kindergarten. I can say from personal experience that we loved having Kindergarteners that were almost 6 when they started because they were the leaders and helpers of the bunch. Your daughter will be fine either way, as long as she has your guidance and support. On a more personal note, my sister had the same issue with her birthday falling a few days after the cut-off and my mother threw a fit only to realize that keeping her out of school that one extra year really helped her. My sister went in to Kindergarten more socially ready and more academically ready and was one of the leaders/helpers that I mentioned before. Again, with your love and guidance either option will work for your daughter and at the end of the day, it is ultimately your choice how to proceed. Best of luck to you and yours!

I dont know about your school, but some will test the child when it is that close to the cut off. If she is up to speed, they will let her go ahead and start. She will probably be the youngest in her class, but... I graduated at 17 and was the youngest... never a problem!

I am a Kindergarten teacher and I would recommend holding her out for another year. I have seen sooo many students that have started as 4 year olds and struggled. It is especially harder on male students, but female students struggle as well. I can honestly say that after 11 years of teaching Kindergarten I have NEVER had a student that started at 4 years old be at the top of the class. I am not saying it couldn't happen, just that I have never experienced it. Unlike what one person that posted said it will NOT harm a child to keep them out an extra year. I have had MANY parents come back and say they wished they had held their child back or that they were so happy that they did hold their child back. I have never heard one person say, "I wish I would have sent her on." Holding a child out will give them another year to mature as well as improve critical skills like focusing, paying attention, developing higher level thinking skills etc. It is great that your child is advanced for her age, but there are other important aspects to consider. My daughter will be turning five in the summer right as school is starting and I will hold her out for another year even though she is already reading fluently. I know this is a tough decision that you will have to be comfortable with. Good luck to you and your daughter.

hi, i had one son that has a dec. birthday and he had to wait. i really think he would have done fine...... however my number three son has a mid sept. birthday. here the cut of is sept. 30th. he had to start in aug. at 4. it wasn't ready. i should have held him back. i think it would have made all the difference in the world. big mistake on my part. i think it can only help. the more mature the better, your child won't know the differance. she will learn the kids she will satart with and go from there. maybe you could put her in a good part time pre k program. it can only help her in the future. don't push it. when she gets in school she will be pushed hard. like never before. i can't believe the things they teach at such a young age. my youngest just finished 3rd grade. the have already gone through adding sub. multi. and divis. i didn't do that till much later. she also had about 2 hours of home work every night except friday. but some times projects for the week end. let her be little as long as you can. i have 7 children, 29 to 9. they will be up and out before you know it. please give her a little more time to be a kid. good luck. just a mom looking back and forward.R. uhls

In our school, you CAN NOT enroll the child if the birthday is after Sept 30. I have 4 children, one was a young 5 in kindergarten. He was very bright and knew his letters and numbers etc. But he struggled. He struggled until 2nd grade. I wish I had held him back and had him start later. I see other kids now in his grade (finishing 6th) who are more mature socially. His grades are awesome, but he lacks some of the social skills of his peers. Two of my children are October babies, so they were nearly 6 when they entered kindergarten. They have done so much better. The youngest is higher now than his brother was in the 3rd grade. The teachers have seen the difference. He is grouped in learning groups who have similar skills as he. It works. I have been in the classroom and can tell the younger kids from the older ones. They are struggling more than my older child.
My advise would be to wait (you may be forced to by the rule). It will only benifit her.

My advice would be DON'T!!! I allowed my child to go early. She was so smart and did very well for the first half of the year. Then there were maturity issues. As the class started to speed up their work habits, she just wasn''t able to keep up. She knew the material, but wasn't fast enogh for them and spent the whole summer tutoring to be ready for 1st grade. Now that she is almost finished with the school year, she faces the possibility of failing, because the teachers say she still isn't fast enough. They are convinced it is the maturity. I'm not sure if that is really the case or if her teacher just gave up on her too early. Either way I would say it's best to not do the same to your child!!

I absolutely would wait another year to put her in school. My son turned 5 in June and we sent him on that August. Almost the entire class was older than our son. We felt that he was mature enough and smart enough to go on and not attend another year in preschool. As the year went on his teacher said how well he was doing and that he was top of the class. I noticed how his attn span was not very good, he did not like sitting at a desk, he was not able to focus long, etc His teacher said that he was fine. I did a more research and asked other teachers, the Director of the City Schools, etc All told me that the word around education is that if they are a summer bday or later, they should either wait an extra year or be held back in K again. They all said that it is amazing what 6 mos to 1 year can do for a child's attn span, focusing, and maturity. They said that not only does it help with those things but that when they hang around children more their age or a bit older, they grow and mature better. They are better academically for their entire school career as well as in sports, etc Our son got into a different school that had a waiting list and does not even take children until they are six yrs old We have decided to move him to this other school and repeat him. For all the reasons above and b/c I was a young child in school. All growing up I hung around with the grade below me, I never knew why I got along better with younger kids. I graduated HS at 17, was the last to get my license, the last to get my 'monthly', etc I think it is better that a child be 18 or more going to college and feel the confidence and self esteem they can get from being more advanced instead of always a step behind. Our son is very smart too but you just can't beat an extra year of the foundation and growing they can get from going off to school the year after they turn 5. Don't rush it, once they go, it goes so quickly.

That is just my opinion based on our son, some may tell you otherwise so you may consider sending her and then may repeat her if you choose. It is more acceptable now so wait so most kids are older.

Also, our daughter's bday is end of Oct and we will be waiting until she is almost 6 before sending her.
Good luck, W.

You will get a lot of people telling you not to rush her. However, is it really rushing her when one school says October, another December, and yet another July 31st? Why is it that the schools keep pushing the date around? It has only been in the last 15 years or so they started moving dates.

I was 17 when I graduated because my bday is December. The cut-off was January. I went through a whole semester at a TOP ranked private school before I turned 18. I did fine. I even did better than most kids as I was in the college track and not the "easy academic" track. This meant that I had all accelerated classes starting in 7th grade. Oh, and did I mention that I was in a private school from K-4? When I left the private school I was academically a year ahead? We used the same text books in 5th grade that I used in 4th. When my parents moved to another school district during my 6th grade year, they were using the same books I used in 5th and 4th grade.

I stopped trying as hard because it was all too easy.

My daughter does well in school, too. She needed to skip 1st grade, but the principal would not let her. The VP wanted her to, and I wish I knew my rights back then. I would have taken it to the school board. She completely lost the love of reading and has learned that the schools don't care so why should she? She is in the Talented and Gifted classes and does well, but seems to have lost that sparkle she had for education. I was recently told by the new VP that they don't like to create "Doogie Housers". UGH! My response: Tell the parents of the 18 year old math professor who is getting through to kids her age that other teachers never could, that they were wrong to accelerate her.

I feel that if she can get straight A's if you hold her back, she has the capability to get straight A's if you don't. Waiting that extra year will not change her capacity to learn and get good grades. And when it comes time for the body changes, don't let people tell you she'll be off from what all other girls are doing and acting. Again, my daughter is case in point. She is the 2nd youngest in her class and yet she was the 1st to develop boobies and get her period. Yes, she is the envy of all her female classmates and gets made fun of by the boys. (She is in 5th grade) She hates it and wishes even more now that she was able to skip 1st grade because then it wouldn't have been such a big deal.

Many people here will say not to rush it and enjoy her at home another year. I personally think that is selfish because it is done to satisfy your needs and does not meet the needs of your child. Our goal as parents is to get our kids to not need us an become responsible adults. I don't believe you are causing your child to grow up too fast if you are trying to keep her educationally challenged.

Remember this: KIDS WILL RISE TO ANY LEVEL OF CHALLENGE THEY ARE PRESENTED WITH. If you set the bar low, they will only meet that. If you set the bar high, they will meet that. The first few years sets the tone for the rest of her life. If you feel she is academically ready for Kindergarten material, then go for it. You have rights, too. Go all the way to the state BOE if you have to. I get sick of how it seems like only those kids who are having trouble in school get all the benefits. The kids who excel have the same benefits, too.

My daughter cried every day after school for 2 years because she was so bored. I wish I could change that. I know better now what my rights are.

I would like to encourage you to get her tested. If the end result is NO, homeschool her and have her tested again next year for 1st grade and skip Kindergarten. Kids are sponges. They will learn what ever and how much we give them. Sept 30 .... in some schools she will pass and other not. So, obviously there are those who feel kids that age can do well in school.

My last point is this: from my experience, the reason the age gets higher is they are teaching more things in Kindergarten. They are able to do this because they are teaching things in preschools to get kids ready for Kindergarten. Preschools boom because there are many moms who work and need the childcare. Parents don't spend as much time with the kids teaching them at home what they need to learn and rely on the schools to teach them. I see it every day at school. The ones who excel are the ones whose parents work with them and encourage education.

Think about this, there are many private schools who take 4 year olds in Kindergarten. Those schools would have taken your daughter LAST year. Private schools outperform public schools for many reasons. Please, I encourage you to don't take the easy road. Instead, think about all the wonderful benefits of educating your child and teaching her to never accept the easy way. When she goes to college, she will be with kids who are her age and some even younger. She will also be grateful that you prepared her for the challenges she will face, too. Raising kids isn't just about hugs and kisses, it is also taking the responsibility to recognize the academic needs of our kids and helping them there, too. Don't settle for less or you will teach your kids that as well. My response may not be the popular response, but if your child is ready for Kindergarten, then she is already above the average, popular response. Why keep her there? Go for it!

PS> Oh, yeah, the reason for the maturity level differences? Parents keep holding their kids back! No wonder! You have older kids who should have started but didn't. They are throwing off the "maturity" curve and perpetuate the problems for the rest of us who have kids that are capable of handling everything.

Girls are usually a little more mature and ready for school earlier than boys are (and not so 'competitive' about things later on -- like sports and getting drivers' licenses), plus the oldest child of a family is usually more advanced (mostly because we spent more 'one-on-one' time with them early on). So, since this is your oldest child and also a female, I'd say -- if she's shown interest -- at least check into it.

First (without discussing it with DD), call the board of education (or school) office and ask how firm the rule is about the cut-off age. Sometimes there's no option for early admission, but if there is -- and if you still have enough time, find out EXACTLY what the procedure is and decide if YOU want to go through it.

THEN, if it is available and accessible for you and her -- AND if you're willing to 'jump through the hoops' to get her enrolled early, tell her the benefits and drawbacks of staying home another year or going to school (with no prejudice), and let it be her decision. Some kids are 'chompin' at the bit' to start school, and some are reticent about it.

i was the oldest in my class and i loved it. it really doesnt hinder the children as much as you think. if i were you i would wait that extra year shes got 15 more years to do school let her be a kid as long as she can

My birthday is Sept.4th and I was an eary enrollement. Now granted I am 25 now :) But I know she took me in and they had a test that I had to pass. And after a few minutes with me they saw it was fine to accept me. Now through the years there was many times that it was a bummer ALWAYS being the youngest kid...but I loved the thought of still being 17 when I started collage. And looking at it now if I would have had any problems I could have been held back and it would not have been that big of a deal, because I would have still been the same age as the other children. Now on the other hand my son turned 5yrs 2 weeks before school started and he was the youngest kid in his entire school. Now in alot of areas he was more than ready and new everything to get started. He had already attended 2yr old, 3yr preschool and prek so Kindergarden...just seemed like the next step. And he actually started with knowing more than the older kids in his class. But going through this with him, I have relised the other areas that sometimes hender them starting early....There are other things that sometimes show there natural imaturaty and henders them with learning. Such as focusing, with staying seated and just hearing there teacher teach. Learning to do work with self motivation and keeping on task. These are areas that my son has had troubles. He is now finishing 1st grade, and he is doing really good...BUT we all... his Father, myself, my Son, and his Teacher have all worked very Hard for this. He has never been held back. He learns everything just fine...its just learnig in a group setting and when he has to work indepentantly keeping motivated and on task. Sorry I went into it so long, but make sure you see the Pro's and Cons of it. I was great with being the young one, but my son has had to work hard. If you know this is right for your daughter take her to the school and ask them if they still do the testing, if you dont have any luck with them or they dont point you in the right dirrection go to the board of education, and they will help you!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

My son just turned 5 and is very smart. He told me last August he wanted to learn to read and we've been doing Hooked on Phonics and some pre-K and K workbooks a couple times a week. Having said that, I don't plan to put him in Kindergarten this fall, though I will continue to work with him at home.

I was in big class -- 18 of us started school together and nine of us went to school together through our first 9 years. Of those 9, about half were 5 in Kindergarten and about half were 6. Those who started a year later consistently had an easier time academically than those who started earlier.

We also know a teacher who told me that by third grade, knowing nothing about a child, she can usually tell within a week what age they started school at. She said that by third grade, those who start later usually have a much easier time academically. This may be anecdotal evidence, but. ... there it is for what it's worth.

If you are worried about your daughter being bored, you might consider looking for a small, private school where she can work more at her own pace and accelerate in the classes that come easy for her. Or just look for some additional "home-school" workbooks that she can work in on her own (even at school when she's done with her other work if the teachers are OK with that). Personally, I read a LOT of good books in my "free" time at school, which instilled a lifelong love of books!

Good luck!

Hold her back and wait until next year. Most of the kids my daughter went to school with were close to 6 by the start of kindergarten and even if your daughter would be ok academically, socially it will be better for her to wait. Find a good pre k program to keep up her skills in the mean time.

K.,
I held my daughter out of school the extra year. I opted to let her be a little girl playing one more year instead of starting to be a student a year early. Every teacher I asked told me that I should hold her out because she would have one more year to mature. The teachers said it would make more of a differnce in the later years of education. She did excellent in school, 8th grade valedictorian and 4th in her High School class. I have never regretted holding her out the extra year.
Good luck to you.
W.

My youngest is was very smart for his age too. When he started K, he turned 5 on Sept 9th and the cutoff was Sept 1st. They would not test in Fl. The cutoff is the cutoff, period. We are now in NC where the cutoff is Oct 16th. He is a year older than most of the kids in his class. However, he is a straight A student, in AIG and very well rounded. The new cutoff date in NC for this coming school year has changed and it is end of Aug beginning of Sept sometime, I cant' remember which. So I know here you can have your child tested, my neighbor did and her daughter started early. Ask yourself this though, How old will your daughter be when she graduates? My oldest will be a senior next year and he will be 17 his whole senior year and will not turn 18 until the following Aug. My youngest will be 18 almost his enitre senior year. I think I like that better on a lot of different levels. Don't rush her! She has 13 years of public school to look forward to! LOL

I am in the same boat as you are. My daughter will be 5 on Sept 14th. We are in Wake County, NC where the cutoff is now Aug 20th . We have struggled as to whether to do this or not. I know that she is ready. Even teachers at my older daughters school have said this when we go to lunch there or go to volunteer, she is about to read, knows her letters, can count to 30 etc. And she is so well behaved when we go there or she is at her pre-school.

I know the tests can be done, it isn't too late, but the tests can be expensive (I have heard from $500 - $2000), and if your child has a bad day & doesn't pass one of them, then that is it. They get a battery of tests, need to pass them all and then it is up to the principal of the school they are going to as to whether they get in or not.

At this point we have decided to wait a year. My older daughter had the same problem with the cutoff date. Her birthday is a day after the old cutoff. She will be 9 in October, and is in 2nd grade. She is a great student and does very well.

Good Luck.

As someone mentioned, you will likely have to test your daughter and prove that her IQ is such that warrants enrolling early. Search your school districts gifted programs to get info... ours states that they can be accepted provisionally at 4 years old with appropriate IQ scores, but this can be taken away if the child shows they aren't mature enough during the trial period.

If she makes the marks and you think she is ready, I say DO IT!!! My daughter just made the normal cut off by less than a week (she started school as a four year old!) and we sent her... she's doing great. My oldest tested in the top 1% for IQ and really needs more of a challenge in school(he didn't attend early.) Be prepared that you may have some challenges if you child is exceptionally gifted- NO JOKE! NO slight to educators, but they are SO focused on those that might not make EOG standards due to No Child Left Behind that the truly gifted children are being neglected... hey, they only have so many hours in the day! When we expressed concern to one of my child's teachers over his underperformance (yes, gifted children DO underperform when they are bored) she stated, "Oh, don't worry, he'll do fine on the EOG's!" Well, I wasn't worried about the EOG's, just that my son thrived in school which he wasn't at the time! There's a new study on how NCLB is great for the lowest performers, but actually holding back gifted ones...
http://www.dukegiftedletter.com/articles/vol9no1_rb.html
In any case, you DON'T want to advance your child if she's not ready for it, BUT it really does just as much damage to hold them back if they truly are ready! Only you know if your child is socially and emotionally ready and, through testing, you can see if your hunch that she's gifted is correct. Good luck!