Why Connecticut Must Review Its Kindergarten Entrance Age Guideline ASAP
Redshirting, state guidelines, and equity
UPDATE 4/24/2024: On June 29, 2023, Public Act №23–208 of the Connecticut legislature revised the kindergarten cutoff age in Connecticut. turning 5 on or before September 1. This new cutoff age goes into effect in school year 2024–2025. This article discusses arguments leading to that change.
Do you believe starting kindergarten as one of the oldest in the class confers children an advantage?
Otherwise put, do you feel your child would be at a disadvantage if she was among the youngest students in her kindergarten class?
Many parents have strong opinions about this, largely based on very small samples that include their own children, and their relatives’ or friends' children.
These examples are meaningless in that no general conclusion can be drawn from such small numbers or without controlling for other variables that might have affected the outcomes — or our views on such outcomes.
Let’s turn to the research then, and the unique situation of my state, Connecticut, when it comes to its kindergarten age cutoff guideline.
