Early entry to kindergarten

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are MCPS's general expectations for kids who are granted early entry to K? Not looking for a debate about whether it's appropriate, beneficial, or harmful - just looking for an idea of what kinds of kids are admitted early, especially given that it doesnt seem like any testing is involved in the application process. Thanks.

They're against this and it will be very hard to convince them. For example, if you had a September birthday and wanted your kid to be in K they would have to demonstrate skills comparable to an above-average first grader.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the school. At DC's school it's easy some years and harder the other years. One time they needed just a few more kids to get an extra teacher. Guess what? Unless the child was a total mess the day of the evaluation like breaking down crying they got accepted to K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The test is for end-of-K skills, and since it is taken around April of the PK year, kids need to be at least a year ahead in all tested areas. If they don't pass each section of the test, they won't get in.

It's weird that they want a child to be ready for kindergarten by testing for end of year knowledge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test is for end-of-K skills, and since it is taken around April of the PK year, kids need to be at least a year ahead in all tested areas. If they don't pass each section of the test, they won't get in.

It's weird that they want a child to be ready for kindergarten by testing for end of year knowledge

They set a really high bar for early entry to discourage people from doing it and even if your kid can do all that, they still deny as its a subjective test. Its up to the principal. Many families end up paying for private K-1 as either way that year you have to pay for some kind of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test is for end-of-K skills, and since it is taken around April of the PK year, kids need to be at least a year ahead in all tested areas. If they don't pass each section of the test, they won't get in.

It's weird that they want a child to be ready for kindergarten by testing for end of year knowledge

They set a really high bar for early entry to discourage people from doing it and even if your kid can do all that, they still deny as its a subjective test. Its up to the principal. Many families end up paying for private K-1 as either way that year you have to pay for some kind of school.

THIS IS KINDERGARTEN, PEOPLE…wake up, please! What are you doing to your kid??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again - thank you, all. Our home school is a two-way immersion so not interested in starting at private or trying to jump to 1st. Back up plan will just be to start on time and stay another year at a preschool we're very happy with. Appreciate all the information.

Oakland Terrace? Yea, they're not gonna admit early. My answer to this question is no kids. They basically admit no kids in mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test is for end-of-K skills, and since it is taken around April of the PK year, kids need to be at least a year ahead in all tested areas. If they don't pass each section of the test, they won't get in.

It's weird that they want a child to be ready for kindergarten by testing for end of year knowledge

They set a really high bar for early entry to discourage people from doing it and even if your kid can do all that, they still deny as its a subjective test. Its up to the principal. Many families end up paying for private K-1 as either way that year you have to pay for some kind of school.

THIS IS KINDERGARTEN, PEOPLE…wake up, please! What are you doing to your kid??

The standard is basically "would it be detrimental for the kid to wait and go on time with their peers." The default is going to K following the cut offs. If your kid is so far ahead it would harm them to wait then they'll consider the option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test is for end-of-K skills, and since it is taken around April of the PK year, kids need to be at least a year ahead in all tested areas. If they don't pass each section of the test, they won't get in.

It's weird that they want a child to be ready for kindergarten by testing for end of year knowledge

They set a really high bar for early entry to discourage people from doing it and even if your kid can do all that, they still deny as its a subjective test. Its up to the principal. Many families end up paying for private K-1 as either way that year you have to pay for some kind of school.

THIS IS KINDERGARTEN, PEOPLE…wake up, please! What are you doing to your kid??

Because the cut off is arbitrary and and there can be the difference of a few hours or a day between being eligible or having to wait a year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test is for end-of-K skills, and since it is taken around April of the PK year, kids need to be at least a year ahead in all tested areas. If they don't pass each section of the test, they won't get in.

It's weird that they want a child to be ready for kindergarten by testing for end of year knowledge

They set a really high bar for early entry to discourage people from doing it and even if your kid can do all that, they still deny as its a subjective test. Its up to the principal. Many families end up paying for private K-1 as either way that year you have to pay for some kind of school.

THIS IS KINDERGARTEN, PEOPLE…wake up, please! What are you doing to your kid??

Because the cut off is arbitrary and and there can be the difference of a few hours or a day between being eligible or having to wait a year

A lot of parents especially the ones who love sports are into red-shirting which is just the opposite. I think half the boys in DC's K were a year or more older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test is for end-of-K skills, and since it is taken around April of the PK year, kids need to be at least a year ahead in all tested areas. If they don't pass each section of the test, they won't get in.

It's weird that they want a child to be ready for kindergarten by testing for end of year knowledge

They set a really high bar for early entry to discourage people from doing it and even if your kid can do all that, they still deny as its a subjective test. Its up to the principal. Many families end up paying for private K-1 as either way that year you have to pay for some kind of school.

THIS IS KINDERGARTEN, PEOPLE…wake up, please! What are you doing to your kid??

The standard is basically "would it be detrimental for the kid to wait and go on time with their peers." The default is going to K following the cut offs. If your kid is so far ahead it would harm them to wait then they'll consider the option.

+1. My current 6th grader did early entrance to kindergarten, and this is the standard we were told at the time. If I recall, four kids tested and two were admitted that year at our school.

[Anonymous]

How could it possibly be detrimental to wait unless it's about the family income and not having child care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How could it possibly be detrimental to wait unless it's about the family income and not having child care?

A kid with first grade level skills having two more years before entering first grade can absolutely cause problems. Some kids would be fine, others have a hard time.

[Anonymous]

Remember that there is also an early entry to 1st grade evaluation possible in MCPS, and so you should keep that possibility in the back of your mind if that is what DC really needs. In other words, you can take that regular PK year in preschool, and then if DC is ready for 1st grade rather than K, you can request that evaluation protocol and see what the school says. This might not be as relevant for OP (who, if I remember correctly, was looking towards an immersion program), but might for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op again - thank you, all. Our home school is a two-way immersion so not interested in starting at private or trying to jump to 1st. Back up plan will just be to start on time and stay another year at a preschool we're very happy with. Appreciate all the information.

Oakland Terrace? Yea, they're not gonna admit early. My answer to this question is no kids. They basically admit no kids in mcps.

What makes you say this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op again - thank you, all. Our home school is a two-way immersion so not interested in starting at private or trying to jump to 1st. Back up plan will just be to start on time and stay another year at a preschool we're very happy with. Appreciate all the information.

Oakland Terrace? Yea, they're not gonna admit early. My answer to this question is no kids. They basically admit no kids in mcps.

What makes you say this?

Maybe with the new principal but the old one would not even allow kids to test.