In DC publics and charters, they have prek-3 and prek-4. Kids with fall birthdays sometimes start at 2.

Some of the big corporate chains just call all the classes above 2 1/2 years Pre-K. Pay no attention, day care is daycare.

She has misunderstood. Or it's some cute term that the daycare uses, but I guarantee you it's not "real" pre-k.

First of all it would be highly unlikely to start any child, let alone one who is 2.5, in a pre-k class in January and second, if it's affiliated with a daycare, it's not the same thing as a school's pre-k.

Maybe they are calling it pre-K, but I have never seen a 2 1/2 year old who was anywhere near ready for a true pre-K class. Pre-K classes are typically for children 4 and/or 5.

Yes I heard this also from someone who's child isn't even 3 yet. WTH? I don't get it either. Does this mean they start 1st grade at 5?

Some people refer to pre-K as a class for 3 yr old and 4 yr olds. In my mind, it is the year before K which is 4 yr olds with a few 5 yr olds who missed the cutoff. But there is no way a 2 yr old is in a pre-K class.

Anonymous wrote:My youngest started at 3, but it's highly unusual for that to happen. She actually didn't skip preschool. She just finished the curriculum early so she got promoted.

So did she stay in pre-K until she was 5 and ready to start K? Same class?

My youngest started at 3, but it's highly unusual for that to happen. She actually didn't skip preschool. She just finished the curriculum early so she got promoted.

Never heard of such a thing. At that age, kids are grouped by age pretty strictly. Even an exceptionally smart 2.5 year old would be in the "two's" room.

I do know some parents who seem to prefer to say their kids go to preschool, when I sort of think of it as daycare. But that doesn't sound exactly like what this person is doing.

A co-worker of mine was just telling me her daughter (who is 2 1/2, same as my youngest) is starting a pre-K class in January. I asked "are you sure it's not pre-school"? And she said no, she is skipping over a couple classes to start pre-K. This is a large daycare (a chain with a couple locations). Is her kid some prodigy or did she misunderstand the center director? I've never heard of this!