Is EEK (early entrance to kindergarten) getting harder?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how EEK would make a school more overcrowded. You are either going now or a year from now.

The whole EEK process is ridiculous. We're at a FOCUS school where kids come into K barely speaking English (no judgment, just an observation), and my neighbor's DD did not get in to EEK last year. Additionally, they test these kids in April, but they don't start school until 5 months later. At that age, so much can change in 5 months!

It looks like you could in theory choose to have the main office evaluate your kids, as long as you apply before June 30. Worth doing that instead so that your kids has an extra few months?

"If a parent/guardian does not apply for early entrance to kindergarten for their child in time to attend the kindergarten orientation session at the child's home school, the application should be presented to the Elementary Integrated Curriculum Team (EIC) before the June 30 application deadline. EIC staff will contact the parent/guardian to schedule an screening assessment session for the child." http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/dtecps/earlychildhood/early-entrance.aspx

I saw this on the website and was considering that for DS next year. Has anyone tried that? Are they schools willing to schedule this? Plus, I bet it's somewhat less overwhelming for the kids, since our ES evaluates kids for EEK during the regular K orientation when there are tons of people around, and the halls are all loud and chaotic.

Even the two month difference between April and June can make a difference at that age.

So basically, reshirting your EEK applicant to give the kid an advantage? I would think that if you're relying on that two month window to make or break them, you should just wait for your child to start when they're slated to start.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. They wouldn't tell me what the sections even were, let alone whether my child passed. It was a pretty bad first interaction with MCPS. I was especially unimpressed with the principal, who said that she was barred from being able to share any information with me. Obviously that is not the case, given that several PPs were given info on which sections their children did and did not pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how EEK would make a school more overcrowded. You are either going now or a year from now.

The whole EEK process is ridiculous. We're at a FOCUS school where kids come into K barely speaking English (no judgment, just an observation), and my neighbor's DD did not get in to EEK last year. Additionally, they test these kids in April, but they don't start school until 5 months later. At that age, so much can change in 5 months!

It looks like you could in theory choose to have the main office evaluate your kids, as long as you apply before June 30. Worth doing that instead so that your kids has an extra few months?

"If a parent/guardian does not apply for early entrance to kindergarten for their child in time to attend the kindergarten orientation session at the child's home school, the application should be presented to the Elementary Integrated Curriculum Team (EIC) before the June 30 application deadline. EIC staff will contact the parent/guardian to schedule an screening assessment session for the child." http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/dtecps/earlychildhood/early-entrance.aspx

I saw this on the website and was considering that for DS next year. Has anyone tried that? Are they schools willing to schedule this? Plus, I bet it's somewhat less overwhelming for the kids, since our ES evaluates kids for EEK during the regular K orientation when there are tons of people around, and the halls are all loud and chaotic.

Even the two month difference between April and June can make a difference at that age.

So basically, reshirting your EEK applicant to give the kid an advantage? I would think that if you're relying on that two month window to make or break them, you should just wait for your child to start when they're slated to start.

What do you mean by reshirting?

Even the K teachers at our school have commented that it's ridiculous to do EEK testing in April, when the kids don't start K until 4 months later. So much can change in 4 months at that age.

We're at a Title 1 School, and we have kids who start K not even speaking English, or never having gone to preschool. If they're taking kids at any level, why is the EEK test/evaluation so difficult?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. They wouldn't tell me what the sections even were, let alone whether my child passed. It was a pretty bad first interaction with MCPS. I was especially unimpressed with the principal, who said that she was barred from being able to share any information with me. Obviously that is not the case, given that several PPs were given info on which sections their children did and did not pass.

That's ridiculous. It allows the principal to take into other factors (like incoming class size, or whether or not they like the kid?). If the process is not transparent, then it's subject to the principal making decisions based on all sorts of random factors.

Did the principal tell you who 'bars' her from being able to share info? Is that MCPS policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. They wouldn't tell me what the sections even were, let alone whether my child passed. It was a pretty bad first interaction with MCPS. I was especially unimpressed with the principal, who said that she was barred from being able to share any information with me. Obviously that is not the case, given that several PPs were given info on which sections their children did and did not pass.

That's ridiculous. It allows the principal to take into other factors (like incoming class size, or whether or not they like the kid?). If the process is not transparent, then it's subject to the principal making decisions based on all sorts of random factors.

Did the principal tell you who 'bars' her from being able to share info? Is that MCPS policy?

Nope, she was extremely vague and made it clear that I was not going to get any information from her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see how EEK would make a school more overcrowded. You are either going now or a year from now.

The whole EEK process is ridiculous. We're at a FOCUS school where kids come into K barely speaking English (no judgment, just an observation), and my neighbor's DD did not get in to EEK last year. Additionally, they test these kids in April, but they don't start school until 5 months later. At that age, so much can change in 5 months!

It looks like you could in theory choose to have the main office evaluate your kids, as long as you apply before June 30. Worth doing that instead so that your kids has an extra few months?

"If a parent/guardian does not apply for early entrance to kindergarten for their child in time to attend the kindergarten orientation session at the child's home school, the application should be presented to the Elementary Integrated Curriculum Team (EIC) before the June 30 application deadline. EIC staff will contact the parent/guardian to schedule an screening assessment session for the child." http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/dtecps/earlychildhood/early-entrance.aspx

I saw this on the website and was considering that for DS next year. Has anyone tried that? Are they schools willing to schedule this? Plus, I bet it's somewhat less overwhelming for the kids, since our ES evaluates kids for EEK during the regular K orientation when there are tons of people around, and the halls are all loud and chaotic.

Even the two month difference between April and June can make a difference at that age.

So basically, reshirting your EEK applicant to give the kid an advantage? I would think that if you're relying on that two month window to make or break them, you should just wait for your child to start when they're slated to start.

What do you mean by reshirting?

Even the K teachers at our school have commented that it's ridiculous to do EEK testing in April, when the kids don't start K until 4 months later. So much can change in 4 months at that age.

We're at a Title 1 School, and we have kids who start K not even speaking English, or never having gone to preschool. If they're taking kids at any level, why is the EEK test/evaluation so difficult?

Should have read "redshirting". And they say that the EEK evaluation is so difficult because they want to make sure your child will be successful since they will already be challenged by being the youngest. As you've said, four months makes a big difference.

[Anonymous]

I'm bumping this thread because we were just denied eek for my daughter with a Sept 4 birthday. She's very bright and her preschool teachers felt she was exceptionally ready. We actually weren't able to test until August and I wonder if the late time frame had anything to do with the unfavorable decision as I'm sure classes are probably already pretty full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm bumping this thread because we were just denied eek for my daughter with a Sept 4 birthday. She's very bright and her preschool teachers felt she was exceptionally ready. We actually weren't able to test until August and I wonder if the late time frame had anything to do with the unfavorable decision as I'm sure classes are probably already pretty full.

Doubt it. If she didn't pass the test, many principals end the inquiry at that point and won't consider anything else. And, the county supports that position. You have the option of private school for the next two years - you have to test into first grade as well if your child does not meet the cut off, so most people just stay in private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm bumping this thread because we were just denied eek for my daughter with a Sept 4 birthday. She's very bright and her preschool teachers felt she was exceptionally ready. We actually weren't able to test until August and I wonder if the late time frame had anything to do with the unfavorable decision as I'm sure classes are probably already pretty full.

Doubt it. If she didn't pass the test, many principals end the inquiry at that point and won't consider anything else. And, the county supports that position. You have the option of private school for the next two years - you have to test into first grade as well if your child does not meet the cut off, so most people just stay in private.

I don't think so / my child was denied the same a few months ago, despite being an early reader, strong in math, etc. they just don't want to take anyone.

[Anonymous]

I find it funny that the test is harder now. The kids in high school currently had Sept 30th, Oct 30th, and Nov 30th entrance dates AND they are the ones that had the options to be multiple levels higher in reading and math. My daughter is a Sept 20th and she took Algebra 1 as a 6th grader.

Now we make the cut off Sept 1st (ridiculous) and make the test harder all while cut off the math levels and cap the reading levels by only one grade.

Hmmm why would they do this??? Oh, wait - remember that achievement gap they want to fix? Remember the huge influx of poor illegal immigrants the past 10 years in MC? OP, now you know your answer. Get used to it for the next 13 years. They can't fix the "gap" because they know the bottom will never move up. Fixing the gap means dumbing down the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that the test is harder now. The kids in high school currently had Sept 30th, Oct 30th, and Nov 30th entrance dates AND they are the ones that had the options to be multiple levels higher in reading and math. My daughter is a Sept 20th and she took Algebra 1 as a 6th grader.

Now we make the cut off Sept 1st (ridiculous) and make the test harder all while cut off the math levels and cap the reading levels by only one grade.

Hmmm why would they do this??? Oh, wait - remember that achievement gap they want to fix? Remember the huge influx of poor illegal immigrants the past 10 years in MC? OP, now you know your answer. Get used to it for the next 13 years. They can't fix the "gap" because they know the bottom will never move up. Fixing the gap means dumbing down the top.

Its easier for the teachers to have older kids in terms of behavior and learning (they assume the fall kids cannot do the work/behave), to keep class numbers lower (often many of us will go private for a few years), etc. Its for the school's needs, not the child's. It absolutely is dumbing down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm bumping this thread because we were just denied eek for my daughter with a Sept 4 birthday. She's very bright and her preschool teachers felt she was exceptionally ready. We actually weren't able to test until August and I wonder if the late time frame had anything to do with the unfavorable decision as I'm sure classes are probably already pretty full.

Go private two years. It was the best choice we ever did. Then, transfer in at 2nd grade (they will try to refuse you but can't - we are doing this now). I'm so glad we did the private and went forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm bumping this thread because we were just denied eek for my daughter with a Sept 4 birthday. She's very bright and her preschool teachers felt she was exceptionally ready. We actually weren't able to test until August and I wonder if the late time frame had anything to do with the unfavorable decision as I'm sure classes are probably already pretty full.

Go private two years. It was the best choice we ever did. Then, transfer in at 2nd grade (they will try to refuse you but can't - we are doing this now). I'm so glad we did the private and went forward.

I think we're going to do this. Are you willing to share which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm bumping this thread because we were just denied eek for my daughter with a Sept 4 birthday. She's very bright and her preschool teachers felt she was exceptionally ready. We actually weren't able to test until August and I wonder if the late time frame had anything to do with the unfavorable decision as I'm sure classes are probably already pretty full.

Go private two years. It was the best choice we ever did. Then, transfer in at 2nd grade (they will try to refuse you but can't - we are doing this now). I'm so glad we did the private and went forward.

Who is trying to refuse you and on what grounds? We had zero problems with this last year. We spoke to the admissions people at specific schools as well as MoCo board of education and as I said, there were zero concerns. It was a piece of cake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm bumping this thread because we were just denied eek for my daughter with a Sept 4 birthday. She's very bright and her preschool teachers felt she was exceptionally ready. We actually weren't able to test until August and I wonder if the late time frame had anything to do with the unfavorable decision as I'm sure classes are probably already pretty full.

Go private two years. It was the best choice we ever did. Then, transfer in at 2nd grade (they will try to refuse you but can't - we are doing this now). I'm so glad we did the private and went forward.

I think we're going to do this. Are you willing to share which school?

Winchester in Silver Spring. Redwood also might. There are many that just have K but you really need to do K and 1st privately. Then transfer in second.