Posted: 7/24/2006 5:53:52 PM EDT
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Okay, not that I will need it for this year, but I figure if I don't start doing the research now, I will forget about it and miss something.... Does anyone know where I can find out the requirements for a child to start kindergarten? Is it individual per school district or are there state requirements? Thanks in advance for any info... |
 The answer is, Children are legal to own, but you cannot employ a silencer on them. |
| Has to be 5 by Aug. 30th (I think that's the date). All immunizations up to date. If you look at the school's websites you'll find info on enrollment, and the any special requirements. StepScrun is starting this fall so I just looked into all of that. If you're interested in all-day kindergarten, and your school is going to offer it, you need to make sure you get a head start on registration. Most kindergarten registrations start end of Februrary, beginning of March. The school we registered Ashtonn in offered all day (you have to pay for it in most cases), with a lottery if too many kids signed up. We got lucky and he got in... |
 but i want local information, not info about the southern part of the US...
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 I felt bad that none of us chauvinists pigs had an answer, and..... <sigh...guilty>
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They keep jumping that age up...if that is the truth I guess I won't need it for another two year...  Stupid october birthdays |
I could give you my ex's number to get that info, but you'd likely become friends with her, then shortly after that, hating me, and then all men... the information cant be that valuable.. 
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They offer testing for early enrollment if you think he's ready. They'll do a test (which I'm sure you'll have to pay for) to see where he is at and if he'd be able to handle it. |
Good call. She could probably get the info from my ex, but with the same risk involved. |
I think not
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As a parent to a future parent (guessing), I would recommend cooperative pre-school if you can manage your time. Kids tend to be more socially developed by the time they arrive in kindergarten and it gets them off to a great start. You guys must have had one hell of a honeymoon for your first thread back "where do I send my future babies" thread. Way to go PCR!!! |
I will have to look into that...again, why I am doing the research early. My dad tried to get me into Kindergarten when I was four turning five and was rudely awakened by the fact that the only class that accepted students younger than five was the Special ed class |
 He'll be four in October |
Ahem, we have a "yours, mine, and ours" situation. 
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Does that Phil doll wet its pants? |
It's not pee 
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What district/city? |
And Hipp... He seems smart as a whip... Challenge the birthday thang |
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Do not start them early if you can help it. I certainly recommend pre-school or day-care with other kids their age - it goes a long way. But I recommend against starting a kid less than 5 1/2 in kindergarden by Sept 1st. (There is a caveat, and that is that the kid is truly advanced AND mature for his age, unfortunately, all parents think that of their kids...) We made this mistake and our oldest had the most miserable time in Kindergarden at age 5. I pulled him out by February. By that time the kids and teacher had left a handful of the young kids "behind" which can make for some fairly unhappy experiences. (We thought it was goiing to be all finger-paint and socialization - like when we were kids - but they are trying things a bit different now days...) Don't rush it - trust me - you'll know when they're ready to go. They start counting, reading, tying their shoes, getting bored with home. They start to get that hundred-yard stare and crabby about starting their day (of boredom). My wife just asked our youngest, who starts next month, what he's looking forward to learning in Kindergarden. He looked at her and said, "To drive".  |
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I had to repeat kindergarten. My great-uncle always used to kid me about flunking sandbox. Having a Dec. birthday and my Dad getting transferred didn't help. I never could understand how if you've completed a grade what difference your birthday made. Oh yes, thank you California for holding me back. I finally ended up skipping 6th and 10th grade. I still managed to graduate a half year early as I'd completed all my requirements by Christmas break. I had to wait until after graduate to pick up my diploma and they wouldn't let me go to the ceremony. I repaid them by instigating the purchase and re-location of a calf with scowers into the gym late one friday night. Their were spots on the floor for many years until they built a new gym. The calf ended up becoming the pet of FFA and lived to a ripe old age before dying of natural causes. I was a real little trouble maker in school. Good thing I found life away from home so much less boring. |
| I think it all depends on the kid. I was 4 turning 5 (on Sept. 26) when I started Kindergarten. My mom decided to petition the district since ALL the other kids in the neighborhood (I'd been playing with for 2 years since we'd moved there) were 5 and starting then. I had to do an IQ test (manipulate blocks!) and passed just fine. ALSO - I got good grades all through school. It's kind of interesting looking back though. I'm still not sure if my mom sent me because she knew I'd be bored and underfoot all the time with no playmates, or because I was ready emotionally/intellectually, or a little of both. One thing - I'm fairly certain I'd have been bored IN SCHOOL if I'd waited to start when I was "supposed to". I was already very talkative/social - I'm sure I'd have been a trouble maker! |
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OK, now for a small dose of reality. Our children are not as smart as we would all like to believe. Pushing a child into a structured school environment at any early age may not be the best thing for them. If they succeed, everyone is happy because they have a "genius" child, if they struggle, which many do in the early grades (K-3) they get alot of stress from parents telling them to work harder and from classmates teasing them. Personally I think children should be 5 to 6 before entering Kindergarten and hopefully they have had some preschool and or daycare to help them socially adjust to being around other kids for long periods of time. I also believe that when a child is alittle to young and immature they act out and become the class clown, except for today the teachers call that ADD. Jackson started at 5 years 3 months, Ashtonn will start at 5 years 7 months. Jackson is in the top 5% of his grade and I think Ashtonn will follow suit, the extra couple of months of learning at home and at preschool can really pay off. I am sure your son will be fine, you and Mack are both intelligent and you have a good home. But if you feel like he is unready don't force him. |
I hadn't planned to reply on where the discussion is going, since Hippy & PCR hadn't asked for advice on whether or not they should enroll early or not. But, since the topic has taken a life of its own, I do have an opinion to share. Hope we're not overstepping Hippy.  I share the same birthday as Donna, and was the youngest in my class all the way through, including HS graduation. I feel fortunate to have gotten out early, so to speak. I've always valued my own time, and never felt challenged or even entertained, while in school. (In fact, I would have dropped out, if it wasn't for my girlfriends father, who wouldn't allow me to date his daughter if I didn't finish the skit). Graduating at 17 gave me an extra year, that the other kids didn't get. I saw that as an advantage, as an early start on real life. However, I recently finished raising my step-daughter, (from age two to 18), who faced the same b-day dilemma. When she began school, the staff there insisted that she wait another year, which I wouldn't hear of, considering my still-young perspective. Perspective can change.... As she grew up, it was easy to recognize her going through some of the same social struggles as I did.... as I may still... as she may also. If I had it to do over again, I would have listened to the school as far as my step daughter was concerned. For myself, I can't comment really, and it wouldn't change anything anyhow.... who knows if that was even a concern for teachers or parents back when I began school. But I know I could easily identify with what she struggled with, and I have regret for my decision. Opinions vary, as do kids, as do schools, as do parents.... but it's my thoughts, in hindsight, FWIW.
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The exact SAME birthday???  What year? [you first!]
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The problem is that he will be almost six by the time they allow him to start school. If he is not ready, he is not ready, but I don't think that will be a problem with the apptitude that I, and others, have already seen in him. I started late and was leaps and bounds ahead of my classmates all through elementry school. There are negative aspects to both sides. I don't plan on pushing him to a breaking point or anything, but I think he will enjoy school. I am contemplating the logistics of homeschool as well. Donna, We are currently in the University Place School District |
Have you found this already? University Place School District #83 Kindergarten Brochure
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Yeah, I saw that and kinda skimmed through it, but I didn't see anyting about age requirements. I could probably ask his daycare though.... |