There is variation in the ideal age to start school for each child because it’s not simply about the readiness of the individual child. It’s also about the family context and the readiness of the school for that child to start. In other words, what happens at school once the child gets there is more important than their age. If you’re on the fence about when your child should start kindergarten, you’re not alone. Each year, parents across the United States are faced with determining school readiness for their 5-year-old — the minimum age most states set for school eligibility. And while some states require school attendance at age 5, many others have compulsory school attendance laws that begin at age 6 or later, which leaves parents looking for guidance about sending their child to school. When do kids start kindergarten? Most kids start kindergarten at 5 years old, although they may begin as early as 4 or as late as 7. Whether they’re eligible to start generally requires turning 5 years old before a specific date — usually in August or September. It’s likely your state offers kindergarten, but not all states require children to attend. As of September 2020, there are only 19 states plus the District of Columbia that require children to attend kindergarten based on state statutes or regulations, according to the Education Commission of the States. For parents in the other states, the decision to send their child to kindergarten depends on personal beliefs as well as the compulsory school attendance laws in their area. According to data from 2018, in some states, school is compulsory beginning at age 5. But compulsory schooling doesn’t begin until age 8 in others. For example, Arkansas, Hawaii, and Maryland require kids to start school at age 5. Colorado, Florida, and Georgia set the age at 6 (Pennsylvania recently changed their age to 6 as well). And Washington doesn’t require kids to attend school until age 8. The differences in rules, as well as the developmental range of individual children, can leave many parents wondering what factors affect the age kids should start kindergarten. What reasons affect the age kids should start kindergarten? Several factors affect a child’s readiness to start kindergarten, including emotional, social, physical, developmental, home environments, preschool experience, and reading skills. According to Cheryl Broadnax, senior director of district improvement at Strive Together, some of the key factors that families consider when making this decision include: Cost of child care. Many families face financial challenges with this and thus elect to enroll their children in free kindergarten as soon as possible to alleviate financial concerns. Maturity. Is the child able to do self-care things like buttoning, zipping, and other skills needed to use the restroom independently? Is the child ready to be away from home and engage in instructional activities within a classroom? Academics. Some kids have outgrown being at home or in settings that focus on socialization. They need to be stimulated and expand learning. Individual development. Preexisting conditions that delay physical, emotional, or mental development may also factor into the decision to wait longer, although some may opt to enroll earlier for more access to early intervention programs.
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