Rowan-Salisbury school officials say a change in kindergarten age rules has caused confusion among parents.
Effective 2009-2010 ó not this coming fall but in the fall of 2009 ó state law requires that a child must turn 5 on or before Aug. 31, 2009, to enroll in kindergarten.
The current rule requires a child turn 5 by Oct. 16.
State law also requires that a child being served in the More at Four program be “eligible to enter kindergarten the next school year.”
To ensure all children served this fall in the 2008-2009 More at Four program are “eligible to enter kindergarten the next year,” school officials must adjust the pre-kindergarten age of eligibility. In the coming session this fall, children must turn 4 on or before Aug. 31 to participate in More at Four.
Because of the changes, one more class of children who have their fifth birthday between Sept. 1 and Oct. 16 ó of 2008 ó can enroll in kindergarten.
But children enrolling in the More at Four program this fall must begin complying with the Aug. 31 deadline ó for their fourth birthday.
Title I preschool programs also serve children the year prior to kindergarten and will adjust the age of eligibility to four years of age on or before Aug. 31 for 2008-2009 as well.
The eligibility age for Exceptional Children Preschool will remain the same (on the child’s third birthday).
Eligibility for Even Start will remain the same, determined by the parent’s education level. All non-school-aged children of Even Start-eligible parents will be served in an education setting regardless of age.