While attendance at preschool is mandatory, the law does not require that 4 year-olds attend kindergarten. Parents who are worried about enrolling their child for kindergarten should consider homeschooling instead. While it is not required, it will help your child be ready for kindergarten. Also, keep in mind that your child’s age is one of the primary factors for enrolling him or her in kindergarten.
Pre-K is mandatory
Pre-K is a free preschool education program offered to children in New York City public schools. The program is based on a partnership between the state and public school districts and is intended to help more children enter the education system at an early age. The program is designed to turn curious children into active students and foster a love of learning that will lead to success in school and later in life.
New York City introduced universal pre-K in January 2014, making it free and available to every four-year-old. As of that time, nearly 68,000 four-year-olds in New York City are enrolled in this program. In a matter of four years, the program will have doubled the number of four-year-olds enrolled in pre-K.
Kindergarten attendance is not required by law
According to the New York State Education Law, 4-year-olds are not required to attend Kindergarten. Parents can enroll their children in a preschool instead. They can also enroll their child in a family childcare center. New York City offers various preschool programs.
Requirements for enrolling in kindergarten
While it’s still too early for Noah to start kindergarten, he would be five years old by the end of the school year. That would put him on the younger end of the class. Parents often choose to postpone the start of school and wait until their kids reach this age. While this is possible, it could also affect the child’s development.
In New York City, children must be four years old by September 1 of the current school year to be admitted to the kindergarten program. Children who do not meet this requirement may need to spend another year in 4-year-old pre-kindergarten. In some districts, children are admitted to kindergarten at an earlier age. While this is the standard entry point, some districts will consider special circumstances. For example, if the child lives in a low-income neighborhood and has a sibling in the school, they may have priority.
Age cut-off for kindergarten in New York City
Many educators see the city’s Dec. 31 age cut-off as an issue of equity, as it allows more children to attend school. However, some are concerned that the age cut-off may not be developmentally appropriate for children who are born later in the calendar year. The curriculum and assessment process is developed with the development of the whole child in mind, and children born too late in the year may not be ready for the same academic demands.
For many parents, the cut-off for kindergarten has become a source of frustration. In New York City, parents are eager to give their children every advantage they can get. One growing trend, experts say, is redshirting, or delaying the start of kindergarten until the child is at least 4 years old. Some top private schools are even pushing back their age cut-offs from the fall to summer, so that all children are able to enter kindergarten.
