Application and testing process for early Kindergarten entrance
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Anonymous
Not OP, but what should be the backup plan, take private K then public K, or repeat preK? I have a toddler with September birthday and am looking for a preschool for him. I was told by one preschool that DS can be in 2s room this fall, then he has to stay there for one more year because of his birthday. I really don't think it good or necessary for DS to stay one more year in 2s room, but would wonder whether DS should repeat K or preK? |
Anonymous
Not the PP, but I did private K (and private 1st and 2nd grade) then transferred back to public in 3rd grade. |
Anonymous
Wow, you really wanted to get your kid up a grade! |
Anonymous
I did the same for mine. It's not so much as wanting them up a grade. You can do private k and then move into public 1st. It takes a few weeks I to the school year to make the move to first, but you don't have to repeat a year of k. The reason for keeping kids in private is that privates offer so much more and if you have the money and it's a good fit, no reason not to stay with private through second and move them to public instead of changing to another private at third. |
Anonymous
| Just send your kid to school on time. The cutoff is the cutoff. This extra year stuff is bogus. Anal parents are creating this non issue. |
Anonymous
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Funny how it's perfectly find to redshirt your July or August kid to the next year (be 6 yo) as long as they are enrolled in something else.
Or people look the other way if you feign a fake address to go to whatever distric. BUT, if your kid has 2 years of preschool and is a mature 4 yrs 11 mos old they have to sit around another year. then what? go be bored in kindergarden a year later? |
Anonymous
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My twins (b/g) have early October bdays. They looked ready for kindergarten all during their prior preschool year. I had them both tested by MCPS, and both were offered early admission to K. The principal then asked me to come to a meeting where she and the K "team leader" tried to convince me to keep them home another year and "let them play."
After leaving that meeting in tears, I enrolled them in K. They are now completing 3rd grade at mcps, and have been top of their class for 4 years. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. You have to know your own kid. Yes, I am still concerned about differing levels of "maturity" when they get to middle school and high school. But I couldn't hold back kids who were obviously ready for kindergarten. Principals often have another agenda, one that leads them to prefer older students. |
Anonymous
I just got a letter denying my son for early entrance and have met with the Principal and an educator who performed to test. My son's preschool teacher who has known him for 2 years was very surprised or the assessment result and actually told me that he is actually a leader in his class. I am going to appeal but would really love to talk to you for advice of what you put in the letter, if you don't mind of course. I will leave my email here ......chanigan@gmail.com |
Anonymous
May i ask to see your letter?you can email me at eriku01@gmail.com thanks! |
john
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DD's birthday was 5 days past the cutoff. My request for early acceptance was denied. I appealed- my letter was thoughtful and very specific as to why the decision should be reversed.
The appeal was decided in DD's favor. She is now is 4th grade and is one of the highest acheivers in the grade (in both reading and math). She's a leader, is very social and 'popular'. DD's K teacher told me that she (and the other K teachers) didn't think DD was ready (she's an experienced teacher and was pissed that she didn't get her way). I volunteered in her class once a week and for the first half of the year the teacher gave me reason after reason why DD wasn't ready. Even into October she tried to convince me that DD should switch to a preschool. She was a good teacher but her ego was a bit too large. Truthfully DD wasn't any different than most of the kids in the class. DD has always been a perfectionist when it comes to school work (something I try to discourage because it stresses her out) so it takes her longer than most to finish her work. It's not her age- it's her personality. I think that some kids are not ready but some are. My point is that if you are denied, it doesn't hurt to appeal. Just be sure you want it for the right reasons. I would kindly request to see your appeal letter it will definitely help me write one for my dd, focusing on important issues. Please kindly e-mail to borrara@hotmail.com. Thank you |
Anonymous
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Just offering another perspective in case its helpful for people "on the fence" about making the request.
I made the request, and my DD was assessed and deemed ready for K (her b-day is Sep 23rd). It was I who decided that as academically spot on and bright as she was, she was simply too bothered by being told what to do, when to do it, etc. I just suspected that in her case socially another year of pre-K was a good idea. I sent her to Childrens Learning Center in Rockville where they lovingly tamed the wild stallion within. Best decision I could have made. And definitely NOT what I was originally planning. And it was very inconvenient for sure, but it was the best thing for DD. I then sent her to a Montessori school for K, hoping the economy would change in time for me to possibly afford it beyond K. It didnt, and I cant. But it too was REALLY the best decision I ever made. Interestingly in this kind of more difficult academic environment she remained in K the entire school year and as a result socially she made leaps and bounds in a very loving environment. So glad she had that experience. After this year I am going to homeschool for as long as it makes sense to based on DD. Just wanted to offer my story as an example of a plan that had to evolve based on what I was seeing happening with my DD. Also as a sidebar: I also have a later birthday Sep 23rd but in my day the cutoff was December. I advanced grades in elementary school by the school suggestion. So the way I see it, if my daughter displays some leaps and bounds in a future academic setting that can be addressed at that time. It would be interesting to see what happens if there is ever public pre-K. It would really help parents with these kinds of decisions and kids with these kinds of transitions. |
Anonymous
OP here. Not being a frequent visitor to this website, I'm surprised at the snide comment above! My child gave me quite a detailed account of the assessment but after giving it some thought, I feel it's unfair to the school to reveal what was asked. Since I said I would post again, here it is generally: -fine motor -literacy/knowledge of printed materials -following directions -early numeracy/math (numbers/shapes) I know you want specifics, but I really feel it's not right. They said we'd know in about a week. I really hope she gets in b/c she and older sib are very close/best friends, and it'll be good for them to be in the same school together through the years. They learn so much from each other. But if not, being the oldest has some advantage. There are good things about both outcomes! |
Anonymous
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OP here. My child started pre-school at almost 2, but I was told that there would be a need to repeat a year of school. In our case, she did a mixed 3s-4s class this year, a 3s class the previous year, and a 2s class the first year. If she doesn't get in, then we have to decide whether to enroll her in a 4s class at the same school, a pre-K class at a different school, or a private K at yet another school.
There are many options, and it depends on your child, other children in the family, balancing various schedules, driving distance, work schedules, etc. It's really hard to know what's best for not only your child but your entire family. There is also the option to apply early for first grade as well.
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Anonymous
I just emailed a copy of my letter to the three posters who requested it. Good luck to you all- I hope things work out! |
Anonymous
May I ask for a copy as well? Thank you very much! My email: springhyx11@yahoo.com |