Office of Child Development & Early Learning
Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare
Kindergarten Age of Eligibility
Frequently Asked Questions
December 23, 2008
- What is Age of Eligibility?
Age of Eligibility refers to the date when children are age-eligible for kindergarten. This is based on the date children turn five and currently varies in many school districts across Pennsylvania. You may also hear it called Age of Entry.
- What is the Office of Child Development & Early Learning recommending?
We are recommending that districts throughout Pennsylvaniaselect a single date of eligibility of September 1.
- Why is a single date of eligibility important for families?
Regardless of where families reside, they will know the age of eligibility for kindergarten and can be relieved of the uncertainty from year to year.
Families can also count on the date being the same wherever they live in Pennsylvania and can move from one district into another without worry about a changing entry-age date.
Parents won’t need to wonder if their child is “ready” for kindergarten when schools have a unified date of entry, and are prepared for the range of experience and development of the children.
Parents will be able to calculate the cost and need for child care until school entry with confidence.
- Why is a single date of eligibility important for districts?
Nearly 80% of Pennsylvania districts already use the September 1 entry date, showing that there is a great deal of consensus around the state.
School districts will be able to offer high quality school experiences for all children in Pennsylvania from the time they reach five.
A unified entry date will create greater efficiencies for districts. Fewer families are likely to ask for special consideration. Districts are likely to do less testing for early entry. Districts will not need to invest in screening tests for readiness, and can use assessment to help assure appropriate instructional approaches and supports for the children in kindergarten, and can use these results to work effectively with their preschool administrators and practitioners to assure a smooth continuum between the birth to five programs and the kindergarten program in the community.
Districts will be able to join together to develop community-wide materials and resources to help children and parents prepare for kindergarten.
Districts will find it easier to work with their birth to five administrators and practitioners for preschool education to develop a smooth continuum from and between these programs and kindergarten.
- What does the research say?
Research points to the value of a single date of entry for kindergarten. Education Week, the National Institute for Early Education Research and the National Association for the Education of Young Children all recommend that districts use resources to develop supportive kindergarten environments that assure all children’s academic success once they reach kindergarten instead of assessing children’s readiness for entry into school.
- What is happening currently in Pennsylvania? How will this differ with the use of a single date of entry?
In 2008, according to a survey conducted by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, 79% of Pennsylvania’s school districts are using September 1 as their age of eligibility. Other districts are using earlier dates such as August 1 or 15 and a small number are using October dates. Some districts’ eligibility date changes from year to year, depending on the first day of school.When Pennsylvaniaschool districts join together to use September 1 as their eligibility date, they will be among the majority of states that usea single date.
- What are the national trends for age of eligibility?
22 states use September 1 as a single date of eligibility for kindergarten. State or local transition teams are working together to identify pre-kindergarten strategies as well as kindergarten admittance and instructional strategies that will assure children’s success in kindergarten.
- Is a single date of entry for Pennsylvania’s school districts mandated or legislated?
The September 1 date is a recommendation of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It is based on national and state research and represents best practices. When districts use the September 1 kindergarten eligibility date, it is also recommended that they use the same date for first grade age eligibility.
- When will all school districts change to September 1?
Districts will have to make a local choice to make a change to September 1. Although many districts may be able to make this change for the 2009-10 school year, others may need another year to plan and prepare for this change. There may be policies or presentations to the School Board that will take longer than one school year to complete. Some districts may elect to use an alternative date. There is no requirement that all districts use the September 1st recommended date.
- Where should I go for more information?
Your school district administration office will be able to provide information on their date of eligibility for kindergarten and plans (if applicable) for revising the date to follow Pennsylvania’s recommendation.
More information on the research that has been done on age of eligibility can be found in the OCDEL ELS #K-03 and on the Early Childhood page of the Department of Education