Early entry to kindergarten

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most important stuff in kindergarten is not academic. It's learning to be a student in a classroom.

Except September-October kids miss out if they cannot go to K.

Why can't they go to K?

Because mcps cut off is 9/1 and the test is subjective.

How would you like the process to go?

I would like a very clear entrance exam and parent be able to get feedback/appeal the decision. I'd like it so that every child is allowed to test and it not be left up to the principal (we were not even allowed to test). Or, I'd like the cut off changed to 10/15 to allow fall kids the opportunity to go if the parents feel its best.

Did you apply timely because MCPS policy requires that your child be assessed if you make a timely application. Also results of the assessment are provided to parents within 15 days.

The principal would not let me apply. I called multiple times and I also went to the school several times and was told no. The principal was really nasty so we gave up vs. fighting it as it was clear even if we tested they'd say no. And, at that point, I didn't want my child at that school given my experience. What MCPS policy is and what is happening at MCPS is often different depending the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most important stuff in kindergarten is not academic. It's learning to be a student in a classroom.

Except September-October kids miss out if they cannot go to K.

Why can't they go to K?

Because mcps cut off is 9/1 and the test is subjective.

How would you like the process to go?

I would like a very clear entrance exam and parent be able to get feedback/appeal the decision. I'd like it so that every child is allowed to test and it not be left up to the principal (we were not even allowed to test). Or, I'd like the cut off changed to 10/15 to allow fall kids the opportunity to go if the parents feel its best.

if it was clear then people would have their kids study ahead of time creating an unfair advantage. My kid is a June bday so went on time and is going for her grade. But I’m pretty sure she could have tested in based on the requirements. She was reading at 4, followed directions, well behaved etc. but so many people want to rush their kid. Accept the cut off for what it is. Do a year of pre k or don’t. Then send your kid on time.

[Anonymous]

Young for her grade that should say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know you said no opinions but I can't help it...our kid is young for her grade (6). She was "skipped" in kg. Early reader (could read in 2 languages at age 4), did math really early, etc. etc. could do all the silly thing in the assessment.
She is still doing really well in school, 99th percentile maps, etc.
But we made a mistake. I can admit this.
Her immaturity is so freaking obvious right now. We should have found her a montessori or something where she could go at her own pace rather than having her skip.

Its hard to figure out how your child will mature as they age, I know. But try. Now we are thinking of all sorts of repeated years/gap year options now to give her the time she so clearly needs.

Yep, around first grade is when I started realizing we had made a horrible mistake sending my late summer birthday boy on time. Unfortunately no way to fix it unless you leave MCPS and come back.

MCPS will allow you to repeat a year but it depends on the principal.

Asked a few times and pretty much got laughed at. So yea, once you are in you are stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most important stuff in kindergarten is not academic. It's learning to be a student in a classroom.

Except September-October kids miss out if they cannot go to K.

Why can't they go to K?

Because mcps cut off is 9/1 and the test is subjective.

How would you like the process to go?

I would like a very clear entrance exam and parent be able to get feedback/appeal the decision. I'd like it so that every child is allowed to test and it not be left up to the principal (we were not even allowed to test). Or, I'd like the cut off changed to 10/15 to allow fall kids the opportunity to go if the parents feel its best.

if it was clear then people would have their kids study ahead of time creating an unfair advantage. My kid is a June bday so went on time and is going for her grade. But I’m pretty sure she could have tested in based on the requirements. She was reading at 4, followed directions, well behaved etc. but so many people want to rush their kid. Accept the cut off for what it is. Do a year of pre k or don’t. Then send your kid on time.

The discussion isn't about a Summer or June kid and it isn't even comparable.

My kid was reading well before age 4 and well behaved so doing another year of prek was silly. It's not rushing your child. A child is turning 5 in September/October and its age appropriate for a 5 year old to go to K. Don't assume an early fall kid isn't on the same level as yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know you said no opinions but I can't help it...our kid is young for her grade (6). She was "skipped" in kg. Early reader (could read in 2 languages at age 4), did math really early, etc. etc. could do all the silly thing in the assessment.
She is still doing really well in school, 99th percentile maps, etc.
But we made a mistake. I can admit this.
Her immaturity is so freaking obvious right now. We should have found her a montessori or something where she could go at her own pace rather than having her skip.

Its hard to figure out how your child will mature as they age, I know. But try. Now we are thinking of all sorts of repeated years/gap year options now to give her the time she so clearly needs.

Yep, around first grade is when I started realizing we had made a horrible mistake sending my late summer birthday boy on time. Unfortunately no way to fix it unless you leave MCPS and come back.

MCPS will allow you to repeat a year but it depends on the principal.

Asked a few times and pretty much got laughed at. So yea, once you are in you are stuck.

I know a few kids who were held back so it really depends on the principal, just like early entry. Some kids should repeat a year if they are struggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most important stuff in kindergarten is not academic. It's learning to be a student in a classroom.

Except September-October kids miss out if they cannot go to K.

Why can't they go to K?

Because mcps cut off is 9/1 and the test is subjective.

How would you like the process to go?

I would like a very clear entrance exam and parent be able to get feedback/appeal the decision. I'd like it so that every child is allowed to test and it not be left up to the principal (we were not even allowed to test). Or, I'd like the cut off changed to 10/15 to allow fall kids the opportunity to go if the parents feel its best.

if it was clear then people would have their kids study ahead of time creating an unfair advantage. My kid is a June bday so went on time and is going for her grade. But I’m pretty sure she could have tested in based on the requirements. She was reading at 4, followed directions, well behaved etc. but so many people want to rush their kid. Accept the cut off for what it is. Do a year of pre k or don’t. Then send your kid on time.

There needs to be clear universal standards. Many parents work with their kids before K on reading and the basics. That's not preping and that is parenting. We worked with our kids on reading, writing and basic math skills to make sure they had a good foundation. We continued to work with them to make sure they had a good foundation. That's pretty standard around here. Some parents prep for testing and nothing wrong with that either to get a child comfortable with the test. The issue is there are no clear standards and its up to the principal so one child can get in early admission and another child who is equally ready will not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Asked a few times and pretty much got laughed at. So yea, once you are in you are stuck.

I know a few kids who were held back so it really depends on the principal, just like early entry. Some kids should repeat a year if they are struggling.

No principal will hold a kid back for being socially immature or having learning issues if they are doing well enough in class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Asked a few times and pretty much got laughed at. So yea, once you are in you are stuck.

I know a few kids who were held back so it really depends on the principal, just like early entry. Some kids should repeat a year if they are struggling.

No principal will hold a kid back for being socially immature or having learning issues if they are doing well enough in class.

The key is if they are doing well enough... Many kids aren't immature and parents have unrealistic expectations or are to busy comparing kids to appreciate the child they have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Asked a few times and pretty much got laughed at. So yea, once you are in you are stuck.

I know a few kids who were held back so it really depends on the principal, just like early entry. Some kids should repeat a year if they are struggling.

No principal will hold a kid back for being socially immature or having learning issues if they are doing well enough in class.

The key is if they are doing well enough... Many kids aren't immature and parents have unrealistic expectations or are to busy comparing kids to appreciate the child they have.

This has nothing to do with expectations. My son had kids in his class that were 14 months older. This did not seem initially to be a big deal but it was a times. He often missed certain social cues. And then got bullied for his attention problems. So yes he did "fine" in class but this was less than ideal. Unless you have had a kid in this position I guess you would not understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Asked a few times and pretty much got laughed at. So yea, once you are in you are stuck.

I know a few kids who were held back so it really depends on the principal, just like early entry. Some kids should repeat a year if they are struggling.

No principal will hold a kid back for being socially immature or having learning issues if they are doing well enough in class.

The key is if they are doing well enough... Many kids aren't immature and parents have unrealistic expectations or are to busy comparing kids to appreciate the child they have.

This has nothing to do with expectations. My son had kids in his class that were 14 months older. This did not seem initially to be a big deal but it was a times. He often missed certain social cues. And then got bullied for his attention problems. So yes he did "fine" in class but this was less than ideal. Unless you have had a kid in this position I guess you would not understand.

Then, your issue is the fact that kids are allowed to be held back vs. September/October kids doing early entrance. You could have held your child back and they could have been the oldest. I have a young for the grade child and its been fine. Kids get bullied regardless of age. For the attention problems, you need to get your child help and it sounds like you should have held your child back.

I have a early entry child so yes, I know all about it. My child is glad we choose to do early entry and would have not been happy academically in a lower grade. There are issues if your child is the older or youngest and being the oldest isn't always better either.

[Anonymous]

In other states many still have Oct 1 as cut off so MoCo early is funny as normal cut off other states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In other states many still have Oct 1 as cut off so MoCo early is funny as normal cut off other states.

Nice try. Most are 9/1

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/what-age-to-start-kindergarten-by-state

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In other states many still have Oct 1 as cut off so MoCo early is funny as normal cut off other states.

They had to make a cut off somewhere but they should honor early entrance if they offer it. 9/1 is pretty standard now. 11/1 would make more sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't push, but instead be pulled by your kid's overall need. And, if you decide to pursue it, don't take no for an answer without pushing to understand why (but then be willing to hear them out if they have good reasons). Room in a class is a school management problem, not a student need problem, and MCPS is supposed to focus on the latter. What if they had one extra kid move in to the area over the summer and register who was within the cutoff age? They'd have to make room.

K can be a step down in many ways from pre-K learning at a child care center, but getting used to school and having age peers is a consideration, too. As one past poster said, while there might be little difference in getting through K/1st/2nd as a late 4/5/6-year-old to younger 5/6/7-year-old, there can be a big difference in readiness for what happens in 6th grade as a late 10-year-old to younger 11-year old.

That said, that poster shouldn't be beating themselves up about it. It was probably the right call at the time, especially if they had peers/friends to follow, and it's hard to predict that a kid *won't* be ready in later grades. There are plenty of kids (and not talking about slow learners -- really anyone) that are in the standard age range but don't handle the changes in one or other grade well.

This is a point that should be really considered. There are a group of kids that are not ready socially for K, but there is also a group of kids who while they may be ready for K academics and be able to manage K socially are going to increasing notice themselves behind as there peers advance in age well before them.