Age cut-off by state

soon-to-beamrs

I've been reading all these posts about pre-school/kindergarten cut-offs today.  The cut-off here (NJ) is 10/1, which my son just misses by a few days.  Growing up, it was 12/31 (also NJ) so 10/1 seems really early to me.  So I'm curious what the cut-off is in your area.  It seems like all the online information is outdated (e.g., says 11/30 for NJ). 

Where do you live and what is the cut-off?  Also, is it common to red shirt in your area?

Thanks!

KoriBrett

Michigan. ?December - don't remember if it's the 1st or 31st. ?

Not common here. ?At least that I know of.?

mlm1128

12/31 here in CT.  And it's extremely common, which basically forced me to do it with dd.  Because she turns 5 in November, and pretty much everyone waits, she would have been almost two years younger than a majority of her classmates. Regardless of how ready she is academically (which even her teachers said she is) she would be at a huge disadvantage socially.

Jinsy80

New York is December 1st, apparently December 31st in the city. I don't think it's common to red shirt around here (between the city and Albany).

championmama

Kentucky - October 1

eclaires

9/30 - TN - I do not know if it is common to hold kids back yet, really.

We just moved from Indiana, which is one of the earlier ones and the cut off is July 31st, I think.  There was talk of moving it back and they do have an appeals process if you want to start early.  I do think it is common to redshirt there, at least IME.  I know a few people with summer birthdays who were redshirted.

Bellisimo

9/1

jettagurl

Indiana is July 1.  Most schools will test for early entry up til 9/30 birthdays, and I've recently learned a few will go to 10/15.  If that's the case, why have a rule?!?  

I've ran across a few private schools that use the 10/15 date, and they promote that (that you can go there and start sooner).  I know 2 families off the top of my head that used this route, then transferred to public school at 1st.

 The twins' birthday is 9/5, and I highly doubt  we'll push for early entry...esp given they were born a month early also.  But, obviously, we'll see when it gets closer. 

 

*Amy*

12/31 in CT.  Anthony will start at 4 and turn 5 in Oct of his K year.

Yodajo

I live in MI, like Kori.  The cutoff is 12/1.

I live in a different part of the state than Kori and here it is very common.  I even called the elementary school that he will be going to so I could find out the stats and the principal herself told me it is extremely common. 

eclaires

jettagurl:

Indiana is July 1.  Most schools will test for early entry up til 9/30 birthdays, and I've recently learned a few will go to 10/15.  If that's the case, why have a rule?!?  

I've ran across a few private schools that use the 10/15 date, and they promote that (that you can go there and start sooner).  I know 2 families off the top of my head that used this route, then transferred to public school at 1st.

 The twins' birthday is 9/5, and I highly doubt  we'll push for early entry...esp given they were born a month early also.  But, obviously, we'll see when it gets closer. 

 

IN is seriously kind of crazy - I think growing up there and being used to it makes me more comfortable with the parents making the call since the rules allow for people to start their kids basically whenever.  Plus, it's mandated by law that the schools have an appeals process in place for starting early.  It really puts the parents in charge, no matter what they want (early or later start).

I think the appeals process can vary by district too - the rule/law is just that they have to have a process in place if a parent wants their kid to start early.

jettagurl

Eclaires - agreed.  so many loops, do what ya want!

luluroo

California is early December and red shirting is common in certain areas. 

EMT

https://users.stargate.net/~cokids/kindergarten_cut-off_dates.htm

Here it is by state...don't know how accurate but CA is right

Rebekah1021

I have no choice but to "redshirt" DD our state cutoff is Sept. 1st, but the school district where we are is Aug. 1st.

darlene'smommy

CA is Dec 2nd. 

kelly&paul

Dec. 1st. I was curious with all the talk today so I called our school. It does seem late to me.

skippy2310

I'm in MO and the cutoff's August. It used to be July 1, but has been pushed back in the past few years. It's not that common to hold kids back, but we do have an early cut-off so that may make a difference.

Halo79RN

dec 31st in NYC.  I've heard by Dec 1st elsewhere in NY.  

juniper19

Halo79RN:

dec 31st in NYC.  I've heard by Dec 1st elsewhere in NY.  

I believe it is by district in NYS.  And I confirm that NYC is 12/31.

In NYC redshirting virtually never happens.  They are very strict about the cutoff, although the principal can redshirt at a parent's request after meeting with the child and confirming that he/she isn't ready for K.  But that's rare.  Given the financial situation for many people in the city, most are eager for their kids to start K so that they don't have to pay for childcare.

The private schools, however, usually want kids, especially boys, to have turned 5 before June.

DevonPow

September 1st here. Amongst the people I know it is the opposite of redshirting - everyone with a September birthday appeals to the district to try and start K that year. Our school district is very strict though - I haven't actually heard of kids being exempt, even some friends that have 9/2 or 9/3 birthdays.

megm4705

Our cutoff is 8/31 this is the first year of it being that early.  It use to be October 15th.  There are a ton of people that hold their child back a year especially boys. 

4Speedy

Yodajo:

I live in MI, like Kori.  The cutoff is 12/1.

I live in a different part of the state than Kori and here it is very common.  I even called the elementary school that he will be going to so I could find out the stats and the principal herself told me it is extremely common. 

Yodajo,  I don't think I live all that far from you, if I remember correctly.  It is completely different in my school district.  And as a matter of fact, there is a pretty big disparity from one side of the district to the other.

In our district, the official policy in the handbook is that kindergarten is not mandatory (per state law) and that kids who are 6 yo by Dec 1 need permission of the elementary principal to attend Kindy rather than 1st.  So parents can't just redshirt their kids on their own because they will be funneled into 1st at the appropiate age, anyway. 

As I said, that's the officail policy but it actually puts quite a bit of power into the hands of the individual schools/pricipals to decide if older students go to Kindy or 1st.  At our elementary school, there is a really tough principal.  She's been there for 4 years and she all but put a stop to redshirting by funneling a few kids straight to 1st early on.  Now it is known that at her school, unless there is a diagnosed learning disability or medical condition or the child is very obviously immature and has a recommendation to start late by the school psycholgist (above and beyond the normal kindergarten readiness screening) then redshirting will not be tolerated.  The other elemenatry school principals are not nearly as tough and there is much more redshirting that goes on in those schools. 

 Interestingly, the school where kids are expected to start at the mandated age and are expected to rise to the requirements has the highest  standardized test scores in the district and is a nationally recognized school of excellence.

jettagurl

Rebekah1021:

I have no choice but to "redshirt" DD our state cutoff is Sept. 1st, but the school district where we are is Aug. 1st.

But you're not really redshirtting, right?  If her birthday is 11/11, she doesn't meet the requirement.  I thought redshirtting was when they meet the cut-off, but are held out an extra year.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.  Natalie's birthday is 11/29, so she'll go when she's 5y8m, because our cutoff is 7/1. That's not redshirtting her.

 

shouldbworkin

12/1 in MI.  Really not too common in my district.  Kids that are born w/in 2 mos of the cut off are iffy and a few (mostly boys) are held back, I don't consider that redshirting with a late cut off.  Most kids with bday around the start of school go to school on time.

sunandsand

Interesting. I really wasn't participating in these discussions since I didnt know what my states cutoff was and how old DS would be. Now that I find out he will turn 5 just 2 days before the cutoff, I am 90% sure I will wait until the following year.

Jen2124

mlm1128:

12/31 here in CT.  And it's extremely common, which basically forced me to do it with dd.  Because she turns 5 in November, and pretty much everyone waits, she would have been almost two years younger than a majority of her classmates. Regardless of how ready she is academically (which even her teachers said she is) she would be at a huge disadvantage socially.

I don't understand this. How could there be a 2 year age difference? A child who is not redshirted with a late Birthday will be 4 turning 5 in Kindergarten. A child who is redshirted would be 5 turning 6, or at most maybe just turned 6. Are you saying some kids are going to be 6 and almost turning 7? IF so, I have never heard of that before. 

Also, I think 2 main reasons why it is common where I am (Michigan)...we have a super late cutoff date (12/1), so maybe this is why it doesn't seem as strange to many of us. If my boys were in another state, they would automatically be starting when they were 5 turning 6 instead of 4 turning 5.

For the people in MI who say it isn't common in their area, I  think it is common in a lot of areas. I know it is in mine. There are a lot of areas in metro-Detroit that have a lot of wealthy families and I think those are the areas that it is most common. 

Angela814

Wisconsin

September 1

The school year starts either the last week of August or the first week of September here. It varies by district. Either way, all kindergartners would be 5 yo within a couple weeks of starting school. It seems to make the most sense to me as far as cut offs go.

Dimplz

It's Aug 31st here.

shouldbworkin

Jen2124:

mlm1128:

12/31 here in CT.  And it's extremely common, which basically forced me to do it with dd.  Because she turns 5 in November, and pretty much everyone waits, she would have been almost two years younger than a majority of her classmates. Regardless of how ready she is academically (which even her teachers said she is) she would be at a huge disadvantage socially.

I don't understand this. How could there be a 2 year age difference? A child who is not redshirted with a late Birthday will be 4 turning 5 in Kindergarten. A child who is redshirted would be 5 turning 6, or at most maybe just turned 6. Are you saying some kids are going to be 6 and almost turning 7? IF so, I have never heard of that before. 

Also, I think 2 main reasons why it is common where I am (Michigan)...we have a super late cutoff date (12/1), so maybe this is why it doesn't seem as strange to many of us. If my boys were in another state, they would automatically be starting when they were 5 turning 6 instead of 4 turning 5.

For the people in MI who say it isn't common in their area, I  think it is common in a lot of areas. I know it is in mine. There are a lot of areas in metro-Detroit that have a lot of wealthy families and I think those are the areas that it is most common. 

I agree, I don't get the 2 year difference thing.  I know of one child who will be 10 mos older than DS in school b/c she has an Oct bday and was held back.  There might be some who are 11-12 mos older, but I really think it will be only a couple, if any.  No one holds spring bdays back here.

With that being said, we are in a high income area in MI and no one holds Aug/Sept kids back.  Oct/Nov maybe, but many of those kids start as long as they are ready.  I guess I think every parent should at least go to KG orientation before making a decision like this when their kids are 3 or 4 y/o.  I went into it thinking DS might not go, but the school really put me at ease that they can deal with kids coming in at all levels. 

eclaires

There were kids in my class who were 2 years older than me.  Well, more like 20m.

I think they were held back though.  I started before the cutoff where I spent the majority of my schooling because I started in another state w/ a different cut off date.  The person I'm thinking of had a birthday 2-3m after mine, probably started on time (which in that state her bday was 6m+ before the cut off date) and then was probably held back, but I'm not positive she was.  I really don't think she was redshirted.

I also know someone who was held back for sports, and turned 19 in the fall of his senior year.  He would have been 2 years older than me if we'd been in the same class.

Jen2124

eclaires:

There were kids in my class who were 2 years older than me.  Well, more like 20m.

I think they were held back though.  I started before the cutoff where I spent the majority of my schooling because I started in another state w/ a different cut off date.  The person I'm thinking of had a birthday 2-3m after mine, probably started on time (which in that state her bday was 6m+ before the cut off date) and then was probably held back, but I'm not positive she was.  I really don't think she was redshirted.

I also know someone who was held back for sports, and turned 19 in the fall of his senior year.  He would have been 2 years older than me if we'd been in the same class.

 

Those seem like extreme cases though. Mlm is saying the majority would be 2 years older. I don't get it!

Jen2124

shouldbworkin:

Jen2124:

mlm1128:

12/31 here in CT.  And it's extremely common, which basically forced me to do it with dd.  Because she turns 5 in November, and pretty much everyone waits, she would have been almost two years younger than a majority of her classmates. Regardless of how ready she is academically (which even her teachers said she is) she would be at a huge disadvantage socially.

I don't understand this. How could there be a 2 year age difference? A child who is not redshirted with a late Birthday will be 4 turning 5 in Kindergarten. A child who is redshirted would be 5 turning 6, or at most maybe just turned 6. Are you saying some kids are going to be 6 and almost turning 7? IF so, I have never heard of that before. 

Also, I think 2 main reasons why it is common where I am (Michigan)...we have a super late cutoff date (12/1), so maybe this is why it doesn't seem as strange to many of us. If my boys were in another state, they would automatically be starting when they were 5 turning 6 instead of 4 turning 5.

For the people in MI who say it isn't common in their area, I  think it is common in a lot of areas. I know it is in mine. There are a lot of areas in metro-Detroit that have a lot of wealthy families and I think those are the areas that it is most common. 

I agree, I don't get the 2 year difference thing.  I know of one child who will be 10 mos older than DS in school b/c she has an Oct bday and was held back.  There might be some who are 11-12 mos older, but I really think it will be only a couple, if any.  No one holds spring bdays back here.

With that being said, we are in a high income area in MI and no one holds Aug/Sept kids back.  Oct/Nov maybe, but many of those kids start as long as they are ready.  I guess I think every parent should at least go to KG orientation before making a decision like this when their kids are 3 or 4 y/o.  I went into it thinking DS might not go, but the school really put me at ease that they can deal with kids coming in at all levels. 

Interesting. I guess the districts I know of holding back are Northville, Novi, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, and my old co-worker lives in White Lake and says it's common there too...but I'm not sure what school district she is in (Walled Lake, Bloomfield, Clarkston, etc)? My sil is in Troy and teaches in Utica and she is holding back as well.  I want to say Yoda is in the Howell area and I think she said it is common around there. I'm surprised it doesn't vary more where you live since our cut-off is so late. I have a handful of friends who are holding back their August born kids, even.

eclaires

Jen2124:

eclaires:

There were kids in my class who were 2 years older than me.  Well, more like 20m.

I think they were held back though.  I started before the cutoff where I spent the majority of my schooling because I started in another state w/ a different cut off date.  The person I'm thinking of had a birthday 2-3m after mine, probably started on time (which in that state her bday was 6m+ before the cut off date) and then was probably held back, but I'm not positive she was.  I really don't think she was redshirted.

I also know someone who was held back for sports, and turned 19 in the fall of his senior year.  He would have been 2 years older than me if we'd been in the same class.

 

Those seem like extreme cases though. Mlm is saying the majority would be 2 years older. I don't get it!

oh yeah, I totally see what you're saying - I was just commenting that I actually did have a few in my class and knew some people.  I do think that's the exception though and definitely not the rule!

michelcreek

I'm in Northern California, it's 12/2.  (Alameda County)

michelcreek

And for "red shirt" I've only heard of that in college!!  Guess I'm either not a big sports person or Northern CA isn't a big sports area, but I've NEVER heard of such a thing for kids (not in high school at least...).

shopgirl78

Texas is 9/1.

I live in semi-rural TX and no it is not common. 

Yodajo

Jen2124:

shouldbworkin:

Jen2124:

mlm1128:

12/31 here in CT.  And it's extremely common, which basically forced me to do it with dd.  Because she turns 5 in November, and pretty much everyone waits, she would have been almost two years younger than a majority of her classmates. Regardless of how ready she is academically (which even her teachers said she is) she would be at a huge disadvantage socially.

I don't understand this. How could there be a 2 year age difference? A child who is not redshirted with a late Birthday will be 4 turning 5 in Kindergarten. A child who is redshirted would be 5 turning 6, or at most maybe just turned 6. Are you saying some kids are going to be 6 and almost turning 7? IF so, I have never heard of that before. 

Also, I think 2 main reasons why it is common where I am (Michigan)...we have a super late cutoff date (12/1), so maybe this is why it doesn't seem as strange to many of us. If my boys were in another state, they would automatically be starting when they were 5 turning 6 instead of 4 turning 5.

For the people in MI who say it isn't common in their area, I  think it is common in a lot of areas. I know it is in mine. There are a lot of areas in metro-Detroit that have a lot of wealthy families and I think those are the areas that it is most common. 

I agree, I don't get the 2 year difference thing.  I know of one child who will be 10 mos older than DS in school b/c she has an Oct bday and was held back.  There might be some who are 11-12 mos older, but I really think it will be only a couple, if any.  No one holds spring bdays back here.

With that being said, we are in a high income area in MI and no one holds Aug/Sept kids back.  Oct/Nov maybe, but many of those kids start as long as they are ready.  I guess I think every parent should at least go to KG orientation before making a decision like this when their kids are 3 or 4 y/o.  I went into it thinking DS might not go, but the school really put me at ease that they can deal with kids coming in at all levels. 

Interesting. I guess the districts I know of holding back are Northville, Novi, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, and my old co-worker lives in White Lake and says it's common there too...but I'm not sure what school district she is in (Walled Lake, Bloomfield, Clarkston, etc)? My sil is in Troy and teaches in Utica and she is holding back as well.  I want to say Yoda is in the Howell area and I think she said it is common around there. I'm surprised it doesn't vary more where you live since our cut-off is so late. I have a handful of friends who are holding back their August born kids, even.

I am in the Brighton/Milford area and yes, it is really common here.  Maybe even to say it is the norm would be more accurate.  I am surprised too that it is uncommon in other areas of metro Detroit since it is so common here.  Maybe one factor could be if a school district has a young 5's program or not?  I have no idea what the stats are and am just speculating though.  That is not a factor in our decision. 

Speedy- I think you are 20-30 minutes north and east of me?  I can't remember if you ever told me for sure though. 

mathteacher

My district in St. Louis is an August 1st cutoff.  I don't know of anyone who was "redshirted".  I do know of some kids in my dd's class whose birthdays are a few days after Aug 1, so they are the older ones in her class.

Jen2124

Yodajo:

Jen2124:

shouldbworkin:

Jen2124:

mlm1128:

12/31 here in CT.  And it's extremely common, which basically forced me to do it with dd.  Because she turns 5 in November, and pretty much everyone waits, she would have been almost two years younger than a majority of her classmates. Regardless of how ready she is academically (which even her teachers said she is) she would be at a huge disadvantage socially.

I don't understand this. How could there be a 2 year age difference? A child who is not redshirted with a late Birthday will be 4 turning 5 in Kindergarten. A child who is redshirted would be 5 turning 6, or at most maybe just turned 6. Are you saying some kids are going to be 6 and almost turning 7? IF so, I have never heard of that before. 

Also, I think 2 main reasons why it is common where I am (Michigan)...we have a super late cutoff date (12/1), so maybe this is why it doesn't seem as strange to many of us. If my boys were in another state, they would automatically be starting when they were 5 turning 6 instead of 4 turning 5.

For the people in MI who say it isn't common in their area, I  think it is common in a lot of areas. I know it is in mine. There are a lot of areas in metro-Detroit that have a lot of wealthy families and I think those are the areas that it is most common. 

I agree, I don't get the 2 year difference thing.  I know of one child who will be 10 mos older than DS in school b/c she has an Oct bday and was held back.  There might be some who are 11-12 mos older, but I really think it will be only a couple, if any.  No one holds spring bdays back here.

With that being said, we are in a high income area in MI and no one holds Aug/Sept kids back.  Oct/Nov maybe, but many of those kids start as long as they are ready.  I guess I think every parent should at least go to KG orientation before making a decision like this when their kids are 3 or 4 y/o.  I went into it thinking DS might not go, but the school really put me at ease that they can deal with kids coming in at all levels. 

Interesting. I guess the districts I know of holding back are Northville, Novi, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, and my old co-worker lives in White Lake and says it's common there too...but I'm not sure what school district she is in (Walled Lake, Bloomfield, Clarkston, etc)? My sil is in Troy and teaches in Utica and she is holding back as well.  I want to say Yoda is in the Howell area and I think she said it is common around there. I'm surprised it doesn't vary more where you live since our cut-off is so late. I have a handful of friends who are holding back their August born kids, even.

I am in the Brighton/Milford area and yes, it is really common here.  Maybe even to say it is the norm would be more accurate.  I am surprised too that it is uncommon in other areas of metro Detroit since it is so common here.  Maybe one factor could be if a school district has a young 5's program or not?  I have no idea what the stats are and am just speculating though.  That is not a factor in our decision. 

Speedy- I think you are 20-30 minutes north and east of me?  I can't remember if you ever told me for sure though. 

Yoda, All this "talk" made me call the school the boys will be attending. Even I was shocked by what she said to me. I said my boys had a Sept Bday and I was going to start them when they were 5 turning 6 and before I could even finish she said "good idea". Then she went on to tell me they won't even be close to the youngest in the class and how she guesses 75% of the Kindergarten class this year is redshirted.  She also said that since lots of people move here from other states, they are already "held back" because our cutoff date is so late. 

What surprised me most is she said "The principal of our school always tells parents, we see parents who regret starting their child early, but no one ever regrets keeping them back a year." I kind of could not believe she said that to me (even though I already planned on doing it). I think I didn't expect them to be so opinionated on the matter. She did add "Of course, you do what is best for you.", but it was like an afterthought.  With as common as she made it sound, I'm really surprised there are areas close to us that it isn't common at all!

Carol*Brady

mj.reilly:

Where I lived in IA it was 9/1

Where I currently live (CO) it is 9/15

Must vary by district in CO because I know for a fact any school around me (Denver-inner city) the cutoff is October 1st & they make no exceptions.