Amend Utah Kindergarten Requirements

this is an awesome idea that fixes many problems for kids ready to go to achool

My daughter was ready for kindergarten at 4, but because she was born in December, she couldn't go!

I so wish I could have put my son into Kindergarten. He instead went to preschool and then tested into first grade. Why is that allowed but not testing into Kindergarten? That doesn't make sense. My son is now in second grade and still doing fantastically.

My girl is reading and turns 5 october 1st!

A child who is not quite five should be able to attend school if he is ready. It is sad that they will waste a whole year of learning just because of few days befiro they turn five!

My son's birthday is Sept. 9. He also knew all his letters and number but still remained out of school until he turned 6. He was the first to drive and date in his class, was one of the top defensive football players his senior year @ Timpview High School. Holds 2nd place for all-time scoring by a kicker in the state of Utah and is attending the U to become a surgeon. Because he began school 1 year later allowed him to mature and enjoy 1 more year of pure childhood. I am a preschool teacher and if it were up to me, I would be pushing for the cut-off date to be moved to June 1, when school ends each year. There are too many children out there who are beginning their school careers too early and are not ready because they just turned 5!

These children may be academically advanced but you also need to look at their social skills. You also need to think about how they will be received by the other children in the older grade as the youngest child. If you push them to enter into that older grade they will be the last to drive, date etc ... There is a tendency for these students to become loners. Why are you pushing your children to grow up so fast? They will have plenty of time to get out into the work force. They will be working in their careers for more than half their lives. Let them be kids. Allow them to stay home one more year and enjoy your time with them. They grow up WAY too fast!

Children should be admitted to School on what they know and can can do. Test them on that.

I agree. My daughter could read before Kindergarten and the teacher's struggled to keep her busy because she was ahead of the other kids. She got bored.

I have a granddaughter that will be 5 sept 2 she is very smart and was hoping to be able to start this year with her friends

The assessment would be at the expense of the parents or guardian of the child being assessed. This is a measure to ensure that parents that would like their child to enter school early because of missing a deadline have thought seriously about this and understand exactly what that entails and that it's not something to just sign your child up for just because it is something they want, but they truly believe their child is ready to attend kindergarten and they barely missed the cut off and they feel like it should be allowed to happen this year. The school districts currently perform assessment such as Bea on children that are not at level building material or the requirements of that assessment are already available whether it would be completed by a school district employee or an outside source would be discussed upon the terms of the amendment being created.

I agree. I would also be interested in seeing what are on the developmental tests and how they would go about testing children who have birthdays after October 1. Would it be privately given and results shared, or is that going to be a requirement for the schools to provide? If it is, where is that extra money going to be coming from and who will be giving the tests and sharing the results?

As a child I had this problem and am thankful that the school I attended recognized my problem and assisted with it. Age is only a number.

If like to see testing and ability to start if they will be five within that year not Oct but through December

This needs to change!!!

I signed the petition because I agree 100% but I'd still need a later date, my little guys birthday is 11-21-11 and I'm pretty darn certain he'd be ready by next fall. I totally agree with how frustrating it can be that only children with disabilities or behavior issues can start school early or get 'free' preschool. $130 a month for 4 days is expensive preschool!

My son turns 5 Sept. 28. It's really not fair. He's quite advanced. Knows all letters and numbers.

I accually started school at 4 cut off date was December 31st way back when. Each child is different if they show they are ready they should be allowed to go.t

I had 3 kids (birthdays September 7th, 8th, and 9th) that all had to wait until they were 6 to start school! They were never offered testing, they were simply rejected and had to wait.

Education should be more student focused, going merely by calendar age is a dis-service to all!