How do Sept-Dec Birthday Student Transfers/Lottery work?

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[Post New]04/12/2011 09:25
Anonymous
So my oldest was born in Dec, so we are looking at the short list of preschool schools (PS3) that take children that turn 3 by Dec 31. But what happens next year when she is ready for PK? If I want her in another school, can she transfer? Or do I have to keep her in the same school until some later grade/age?

1. Once she does a year of PS, can she transfer into a PK grade at another school regardless of birthday?
2. If not PK, does she have to wait till K or 1st or 2nd to transfer in regardless of birthday?
3. If there is a birthday limit to PK, and PK is still the best lottery chance, can she do PK at her current school then lottery for PK at Sept 30 schools the following year (as in repeat PK)?

Thanks for your help in advance.

[Post New]04/12/2011 10:23
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:So my oldest was born in Dec, so we are looking at the short list of preschool schools (PS3) that take children that turn 3 by Dec 31. But what happens next year when she is ready for PK? If I want her in another school, can she transfer? Or do I have to keep her in the same school until some later grade/age?

1. Once she does a year of PS, can she transfer into a PK grade at another school regardless of birthday?
2. If not PK, does she have to wait till K or 1st or 2nd to transfer in regardless of birthday?
3. If there is a birthday limit to PK, and PK is still the best lottery chance, can she do PK at her current school then lottery for PK at Sept 30 schools the following year (as in repeat PK)?

Thanks for your help in advance.



A school that considers 9/30 to be the deadline is not going to make an exception for your child because she's had a year of PS3 (otherwise they'd get requests from parents in private pre-school, and co-ops, and "pre-school daycare" and who knows what all). You're basically lucky that you get an extra year of PS3. Schools don't start discounting the birthdate as a qualifier until 1st or 2nd grade.
[Post New]04/12/2011 11:03
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my oldest was born in Dec, so we are looking at the short list of preschool schools (PS3) that take children that turn 3 by Dec 31. But what happens next year when she is ready for PK? If I want her in another school, can she transfer? Or do I have to keep her in the same school until some later grade/age?

1. Once she does a year of PS, can she transfer into a PK grade at another school regardless of birthday?
2. If not PK, does she have to wait till K or 1st or 2nd to transfer in regardless of birthday?
3. If there is a birthday limit to PK, and PK is still the best lottery chance, can she do PK at her current school then lottery for PK at Sept 30 schools the following year (as in repeat PK)?

Thanks for your help in advance.



A school that considers 9/30 to be the deadline is not going to make an exception for your child because she's had a year of PS3 (otherwise they'd get requests from parents in private pre-school, and co-ops, and "pre-school daycare" and who knows what all). You're basically lucky that you get an extra year of PS3. Schools don't start discounting the birthdate as a qualifier until 1st or 2nd grade.


this is correct. If a school made an exception for you, they'd have to make an exception for hundreds of others children who also will first do several years of PS and or PK at private preschools, etc prior to entering the charter and or DCPS PK programs.
[Post New]04/12/2011 11:23
Anonymous
Apparently DCPS does make this exception in K. A child in my DC class has a late Nov birthday. The child attended a chartered school, with a Dec 31 cut off date, for 2 years (preK3 and Prek4).
[Post New]04/12/2011 14:16
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Apparently DCPS does make this exception in K. A child in my DC class has a late Nov birthday. The child attended a chartered school, with a Dec 31 cut off date, for 2 years (preK3 and Prek4).


Sorry, but sounds like an unpopular school so the Principal used some private discretion. This policy is not going to fly at the popular schools that are already bursting at the seams. If I had a child in a jam-packed JKLM Kinder class, I would be through the roof that one more child was added to the rolls essentially because some other parent didn't want to pay for daycare or pre-school.
[Post New]04/12/2011 14:22
Anonymous
Sorry to burst your bubble but it is a popular DCPS.
[Post New]04/12/2011 14:25
Anonymous
I guess there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules.
[Post New]04/12/2011 14:38
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Sorry to burst your bubble but it is a popular DCPS.


We don't all seem to agree on what popular is here.
[Post New]04/12/2011 14:43
Anonymous
Agreed. Everyone won't agree on popular.
[Post New]04/12/2011 14:46
Anonymous
Agreed. Your view of popular school might be a Hill/Brookland school while mine is an upper NW school (which is where the DCPS is located.)
[Post New]04/12/2011 15:25
PetworthDad
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:A school that considers 9/30 to be the deadline is not going to make an exception for your child because she's had a year of PS3 (otherwise they'd get requests from parents in private pre-school, and co-ops, and "pre-school daycare" and who knows what all). You're basically lucky that you get an extra year of PS3. Schools don't start discounting the birthdate as a qualifier until 1st or 2nd grade.


So what grades do schools stop using birth date as qualifier? 1st? 2nd? 3rd? Do they have discretion (ie variable per school) or is there a specific rule for public schools or charters?
[Post New]04/12/2011 15:41
PetworthDad
Member Offline
Anonymous wrote:You're basically lucky that you get an extra year of PS3.


So she can repeat PS3 or PK4? As in we have her in PS3/PK4 at a 12-31 cut off school, then she can take PS3/PK4 again at a new school with a 9/30 cut off? Do you know this also applies for K or 1 too? Essentially up to the year that birth date doesn't matter.
[Post New]04/12/2011 16:01
Anonymous
PetworthDad wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You're basically lucky that you get an extra year of PS3.


So she can repeat PS3 or PK4? As in we have her in PS3/PK4 at a 12-31 cut off school, then she can take PS3/PK4 again at a new school with a 9/30 cut off? Do you know this also applies for K or 1 too? Essentially up to the year that birth date doesn't matter.


Yes. My DS is finishing his 1st year at Bridges with a Dec bday (meaning he started PS3 at 2 years 8 months). Next year (2011-2012), he will be in PS3 at a DCPS, then he will be in PK4 for the 2012-2013 year. So, yes, he will have 3 years of PK.
[Post New]04/12/2011 20:14
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Your view of popular school might be a Hill/Brookland school while mine is an upper NW school (which is where the DCPS is located.)


I'm thinking strictly JKLM.
[Post New]04/12/2011 20:39
Anonymous
Actually, if a child completes PK3 or PK4 in a school that gives a DCPS ID (either charter, public, or UPK) then the receiving school HAS to honor that and let them in the next grade. In my experience the child in this situation often struggle, and parents sometimes choose to have them repeat but it's your right to do this if it's what you want.
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