https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 08:18:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873253 Thu, 21 Feb 2019 08:14:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 2873253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: oh and we had half day K when I went, but kids also weren’t expected to be reading and sitting still by the end of k. Expectations are so much greater and ages are the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873252 Thu, 21 Feb 2019 08:13:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 2873252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: we also currently have free half day or you pay for full, but the half day classes are separate- so there is one am, one pm, same classroom and teacher, and the rest are full day. But they have to cover the same curriculum in a much shorter time so they don’t get the specials, like gym, art, music. I can’t see how that’s better for kids who aren’t ready for k, but I haven’t experienced it either. </p> <p>@bees_knees: I know I wouldn’t want to test into the full day without a really really good reason. My daughter has always been the youngest in her class and it showed. I wouldn’t force that on her if she could be with same age peers. But that’s just based on her personality and our personal experience here. I do think six month age groupings seem better than year but also see the logistical problems down the line. Are you likely to move? If you aren’t I would be inclined to go along with their timing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873228 Thu, 21 Feb 2019 00:50:42 +0000 bees_knees 2873228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maddyz: So they would be REALLY young if they happened to transfer into a district similar to my district's policies!</p> <p>@DesertDreams88: Super weird. I know you're in education...what's your take on it?</p> <p>@Sams Mom: I almost WISH there wasn't an option of testing in/out...that way the decision is out of my hands! ha. I get that full day K would alleviate TONS of financial burden on a 2 working parent household, but I SAH so it's not an issue for our family. I wish all K everywhere was play based half day. When I was younger we went 3 (full) days a week, which I think would be another great option....ahhhh simpler times. Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873214 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 23:29:11 +0000 Sams Mom 2873214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son isn't quite 3 yet, but I do know our districts cut off is August 1 and doesn't allow testing in. I have an April baby so it's not a big deal, but a friend's son missed the cut off by a week, is very bright, gets bored easy, pre k teachers say he's ready... But he can't test in 🤷🏼‍♀️</p> <p>The half day/full day is odd to me. My district doesn't offer half day, but I went to half day K. The main reason kids went to full day vs half day when I was there was whether or not they had 2 working parents (less childcare with full day). But it didn't matter which you were in, everyone went to 1st grade the next year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873213 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 23:16:09 +0000 DesertDreams88 2873213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that's a really weird policy.<br /> Also, yessssssss @Pollywog: 👏👏👩‍🏫 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873212 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 23:04:39 +0000 maddyz 2873212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: my DS1 will start k at 5 because he had a Feb bday so will turn 5 in pre-k. DS2 will be 4 for a few weeks at the start of k (Sept birthday). It makes some kids young for their grade compared to a Sept cut off other places. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873207 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:16:08 +0000 bees_knees 2873207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tysonja: So I am from a tiny town (I started K with 5 other kids in my grade...and graduated with the same 5!) PLUS one "new kid" came in third grade. He was Canadian so he was a year younger than the rest of us. He still did fine in school, but it is kind of funny to think that theoretically there could be a TWO year age difference if something like that happened now!</p> <p>I do have some elementary teacher friends in the area, I think I will reach out to see what they think of our district's policy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873206 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:13:42 +0000 tysonja 2873206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>wow that is interesting! i know the states have differing cutoff dates for kindergarten, but i haven't heard about this one yet. we're in canada and kids born in the same year (2013, 2014) all start school together, although of course you are welcome to hold your child back if they have a super super late birthday or vice versa. </p> <p>my son (5) is currently in K and will still be 6 when he starts Grade 2 (end of sept bday), as will my daughter (oct birthday). </p> <p>good luck! i'm sure though if it is the norm in your area everything will even out in the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873205 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 22:07:51 +0000 bees_knees 2873205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: This is interesting, and very helpful (thank you!) I haven't watched the video yet but I will when I get a chance tonight! I *also* am a huge fan of play based learning, which due to our extremely rural town, is pretty limited. As in. No Montessori preschools, no private schools, etc. Soooo we kind of get what we get! We *do* have some excellent educators, so we are lucky there. DS1's preschool teacher said he's 100% academically ready for full day K (and I would agree) but that he's timid and shy (also totally true)...and I've always read that social readiness is the biggest predictor in academic success. Which makes me lean towards half day K. </p> <p>@maddyz: So you start kindergarten at 4 (and turn 5 that year?) If that's the case, DS could potentially be 2 years older than kids in his grade (since he would start full day K at 6 and turn 7 during the year). 7 year old kindergartener? That seems crazy!</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Thanks for chiming in!</p> <p>@ShootingStar: I'm jealous of that program! Sounds like it will be a really great fit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873199 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 21:47:10 +0000 ShootingStar 2873199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my district the cut-off is 9/1. DS is a November birthday, so he’ll be one of the oldest in the fall. Right now our district does 1/2 kindergarten for free and full day is paid. All of the state required learning happens in the morning half since every kid has that and the afternoon half has lunch and more recess and extra kinds of learning like a computer class. Next year the district plans to implement free full day kindergarten and then the state mandated learning will be spread throughout the day. </p> <p>We just went to the kindergarten open house and I really like it. Lots of toys, fun puzzles, and things that kids had built with craft supplies. They also had standing areas with these weird things for kids to kind of stand and wobble on if they had trouble concentrating while sitting. </p> <p>DS has a lot of energy and finds it tough to sit in one place and I think this school and program are a good fit. I think too that the fact that he’s going when he’s comparatively old will be very beneficial. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873186 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 21:18:42 +0000 Foodnerd81 2873186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maddyz: CT, or at least parts of it, have the Jan 1 cut off as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873184 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 21:15:41 +0000 maddyz 2873184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nyc the cutoff is the calendar year, so you go to pre k the year you turn 4 and k the year you turn 5. I have a Feb boy who will be very ready for pre k this fall and a Sept boy who will go the next year kinda on the young side. It's weird, I don't know of other places that do this.</p> <p>The pre-k is play based and a strong program. K gets into the problems with common core and is a real struggle for most kids... it's so frustrating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873177 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 21:04:45 +0000 Pollywog 2873177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: So the cliff notes of the research (if it is helpful, ignore if it isn't) is that when No Child Left Behind was implemented in 2001 it mandated that every state assess kids in reading and math for grades 3-8. Research showed that kids who weren’t on track in 3rd grade generally couldn’t catch up. They would struggle with school all the way through high school and were less likely to graduate. So states tried to help get their 3rd graders on track. They did this by increasing the standards for K-2. The problem is that a lot of the standards weren’t developmentally appropriate. So 5 year olds were being asked to sit still and do worksheets all day and then getting in trouble because they were just not developmentally there. Districts realized that their youngest students were the ones that were struggling and they changed the cutoffs. They also started getting more state and federal money for pre-k/transitional K that covers what we used to do in kindergarten. The idea is that you give the kids the supports that they need so that they will succeed later on. </p> <p>What we are seeing is that many kids aren’t ready to do the work when they start kindergarten and then they struggle. They hate going to school because the expectations aren’t realistic. Having compared the assessments to 5 year old behavior in my wealthy suburb, many kids are ready in some domains, but aren’t in others. And these kids have every advantage money can buy and super invested parents. </p> <p>In general, I am a huge advocate of play based learning and developmentally appropriate expectations. I would be okay with my young 5 year old in a play based learning classroom, but would not allow them to go to a modern day kindergarten where they sit still all day. This documentary was just released that talks about the difference: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdvdfB_7838" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdvdfB_7838</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873164 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:37:03 +0000 Foodnerd81 2873164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: I have never heard of that, but I can see the reasoning, generally. This is still a hot topic among my friends and circle generally- I have a bunch of friends with kidsnthe same age as my daughter, who turned five towards the end of the summer (9/1 cut off). Half sent their kids “on time” and half held them. All the ones who sent them on time are now talking about trouble their kids are having at school, allof which sound like totally normal behavior for a 5.5 year old now. And we are all frustrated that the expectations of a kid who went to school on time are so unrealistic. </p> <p>So, this sounds weird to me but based on my limited knowledge and experience with this, it doesn’t sound terrible. But it does pose potential issues if you moved I guess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873161 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:33:08 +0000 bees_knees 2873161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: thank you for your input. I’m happy to hear it’s happening in other districts and not just in ours. I can def see the benefits of it! I need to research more about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873151 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:16:14 +0000 Pollywog 2873151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So kindergarten expectations have rapidly been increasing and most 5 year olds aren't ready. I've seen a lot of districts try programs like this. Half day K is more of a developmental program that's more advanced than preschool, but gives space to develop the socio-emotional skills needed for K </p> <p>In most cases this wasn't an arbitrary decision, but one made after watching many kids needlessly struggle in 1st and 2nd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873150 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:14:22 +0000 JennyPenny 2873150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: Aww I hear you. And I’m a WOH mom super excited to drop a daycare payment. But it sounds like maybe the half day option is good for you if getting more time with him before school is of value to you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873149 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:11:55 +0000 bees_knees 2873149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: Logically I know that. I'm just having trouble because I SAH and I'm jealous of someone that isn't me spending 8 hours a day with my kid. *sniffle* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873148 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:10:42 +0000 JennyPenny 2873148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: I don’t think half K to first is a good idea. Then the kids who did full K will be both older and have a stronger preparation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873147 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:09:30 +0000 JennyPenny 2873147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: Oh, if there’s a test I think that changes things a lot. And I wouldn’t worry about him being youngest even. I bet there will be plenty of April-Aug parents who choose to test to do full K “on time” </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873146 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:09:09 +0000 bees_knees 2873146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JennyPenny: That's my feeling too. Personally I wish that he could do half day K and then go straight to 1st grade but that apparently isn't an option. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873144 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:07:43 +0000 JennyPenny 2873144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm... to me this mostly reads as a district moving the true Kindergarten cutoff back 6 months but offering something to appease people who would be put off by it. Honestly, the cutoff has to be somewhere so there will always be old/young kids. I think it would be a nice program if the half K was optional to that group instead of being the only option. But to answer your question - no my district doesn’t do this. It’s 5 by Sep 1 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873143 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:07:19 +0000 bees_knees 2873143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: Yes they can test into the full day K. But I don't want to do it to his detriment (I think he is ready for full day K and his preschool teacher agrees, but that potentially would make him the very very youngest in his grade?) I mean I know SOMEONE has to be the youngest so it may as well be my kid? </p> <p>It just seems like they willy nilly changed the cutoff date. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873142 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:04:43 +0000 gotkimchi 2873142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never heard of that. Did you verify with the district? If that is the case can he test out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kindergarten-cut-offs#post-2873141 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 19:01:03 +0000 bees_knees 2873141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What is your district's age cutoff for kindergarten? DS1 turns 5 at the end of March ( :crying: ) so kindergarten is on our radar...turns out *technically* the district cutoff is Sept 5. BUT, if they are 5 before March 1 they go to full day K, if they turn 5 after March 1 they go to half day. IF they go to half day K, they have to do full day K the next year before they go on to 1st grade. </p> <p>Doesn't this seem weird? Like...if we do half day K (which is technically just like preschool?), he will turn 7 during his full day K year. Isn't that old for a kindergartener? What if we moved districts? Would he be the oldest person in his grade forever? Do other districts do this? </p> <p>Help! I'm freaking out! Most of this can be attributed to anxiety over my first leaving the nest but... :crying: :bummed: </p>