The deal in FCPS is that kids who are in Oct/Nov. can go to private kindergarten and then move to public school. It is up to the school whether they will take them for 1st grade or put them in kindergarten (which is what their bday would default them to). Some private kindergartens have a known reputation for the quality of their program and the nearby publics know them and will take their recommendations for placing the child in 1st grade. There are absolutely no guarantees that your child will be placed in 1st grade and the private Kindergs will tell you that. But, it can happen.

In Mont/PG counties, there is a formal assessment process for placing kids ahead. My friend did it with her kid and it has worked out very well (but he would have been "on time" in FCPS b/c he's an end-of-Sept. kid).

Pretty sure in VA it is a state law that Sept 30 is the cutoff. In Arlington I don't believe there's any budging on this. It has happened that kids do private Kgn and then can test in early for first grade, but don't believe they will take kids for kindergarten who missed the cutoff.

Anonymous wrote:

OP, I am an early October birthday. I started K at 4. It was in California, though.

The only time it posed any issues was in later teen years when I was always the last of my peers to get a driver's license, turn 18, turn 21, etc. But in hindsight, that wasn't very traumatic. And it's balanced now by the fact that I'm the last to hit 40, etc. Turnabout is fair play.

In California at that time, the cut off was 31 December (I don't know if they changed it since then, but I have a 29 year old friend who went to school in California and that was the cut off date when he was there.) An October birthday there was well before the cut off, so there would be lots of other kids with similar birthdays. Very different from being almost a month younger than the next youngest kid in the class.

No matter how smart a child is, he or she still is developing physically and emotionally. Intellectual, physical, and emotional development all take place at different rates and advancement in one does not guarantee advancement in the others.

Yes, I see this frequently...people from our generation talking about how they were "young" in their class and it all worked out. But I think a lot more places had calendar year cut offs when we were kids and people aren't remembering that part. New York state had a December 31 cut off when I was a kid too.

Anonymous wrote:OP why are you even thinking about any of this? Enjoy your child and don't worry about it. And by the way, when you and your husband read and wrote really doesn't have much bearing on when your son will. I was also an early reader and my kids haven't turned out to be. Who cares, they all learn to read eventually.

OP here: I am bored at work and lamenting daycare costs That and we are buying a house soon, so school distracts/elementary school has been on my mind. I am not stressed about my kids ability to read I promise! It was honestly just a question.

OP, I am an early October birthday. I started K at 4. It was in California, though.

The only time it posed any issues was in later teen years when I was always the last of my peers to get a driver's license, turn 18, turn 21, etc. But in hindsight, that wasn't very traumatic. And it's balanced now by the fact that I'm the last to hit 40, etc. Turnabout is fair play.

In California at that time, the cut off was 31 December (I don't know if they changed it since then, but I have a 29 year old friend who went to school in California and that was the cut off date when he was there.) An October birthday there was well before the cut off, so there would be lots of other kids with similar birthdays. Very different from being almost a month younger than the next youngest kid in the class.

No matter how smart a child is, he or she still is developing physically and emotionally. Intellectual, physical, and emotional development all take place at different rates and advancement in one does not guarantee advancement in the others.

OP why are you even thinking about any of this? Enjoy your child and don't worry about it. And by the way, when you and your husband read and wrote really doesn't have much bearing on when your son will. I was also an early reader and my kids haven't turned out to be. Who cares, they all learn to read eventually.

Anonymous wrote:1) I think KG has changed since we were in it. It is more academic and not as much play time. Children are tested in reading and expected to write in journals.

2) Montgomery County has a Sept 1st cut-off, whereas Fairfax County has a Sept 30 cut-off.

However, do what is right for your child. If you think he/she should go early, put him/her in a year of private and then go to the school for an "interview" to start him/her in first grade.

OP here: Thanks, obviously it is a few years off and I have no clue where he will be academically/socially. But I think it is certainly w/in the realm of possibility that he could be reading/writing by then. But again, who knows (DH and I both were reading and writing upon entry into KG). But as for now, I am just gathering information for the future. Thanks!

1) I think KG has changed since we were in it. It is more academic and not as much play time. Children are tested in reading and expected to write in journals.

2) Montgomery County has a Sept 1st cut-off, whereas Fairfax County has a Sept 30 cut-off.

However, do what is right for your child. If you think he/she should go early, put him/her in a year of private and then go to the school for an "interview" to start him/her in first grade.

OP here: I am not sure I want to do it BUT I just want to know if it is an option. Both DH and I started kinder at 4 and it was really a good choice for us. We were both ready, so I don't think it is out of line to think that DS could be ready then.

In Fairfax, it varies by school. I know a girl at our elementary school whose birthday is Nov. 5. After private K a year "early", school interviewed her and decided she was ready for 1st.

I meant why wouldn't she!

Why would she??? My child misses the cut off by 4 days. I think anything around 25 to 30 days is legitimate and the child can be tested in if the parent thinks its best. Maybe her child is bright and needs more simulation. You have no idea. It's what she thinks is best!

Anonymous wrote:Why would you want to do that?

Why wouldn't you? If the kid is ready for school, send him or her to school. Who wants to wait another year?

OP, I am an early October birthday. I started K at 4. It was in California, though.

The only time it posed any issues was in later teen years when I was always the last of my peers to get a driver's license, turn 18, turn 21, etc. But in hindsight, that wasn't very traumatic. And it's balanced now by the fact that I'm the last to hit 40, etc. Turnabout is fair play.

Can't answer your original question about school district policies, unfortunately. Just thought you might appreciate the perspective of someone who had BTDT.

I'm male, BTW, in case you consider that relevant.

Why would you want to do that?

Can kids test in early to Kinder in Arlington or Fairfax?

I know my friend's son in Montgomery county missed the age cut off by 2 weeks or so, they allowed him to test in and he started K at 4 years old (but obviously turned 5 two weeks later).

DS misses the cut off by 24 days and doesn't start kinder for a few years, but I was just wondering if Arlington or Fairfax had this option? I tried to look it up, but didn't have much luck. Thanks!