Kindergarten Early Entry Option
Michigan law* states that a child must be five years old on or before Sept. 1 to enroll in kindergarten.
Early Entry Option:
With the change in the state law about when a child can enroll in kindergarten, some children may end up having to wait an extra year to attend. This concerned lawmakers. What if your child’s birthday causes him or her to just miss being able to enroll? That’s where the “early entry option” comes in.
If your child is not five years old by Sept. 1, but will be five years old on or before Dec. 1, and you wish to enroll him or her in kindergarten the school year BEFORE he or she would now be age eligible to enroll, you must notify the school district of your plan. Once a school district receives notice of the desire by parents to enroll their child who just misses the age cut-off, they consider the request. They may talk with you about your child’s readiness for school, and about the kinds of things that children will be expected to do and learn in kindergarten. They may also recommend whether or not your child should be enrolled early. Regardless of what they recommend, you make the final decision about whether or not to enroll your child in kindergarten.
*The section of the Revised School Code that addresses this issue is contained in the Michigan Compiled Laws under MCL 380.1147.
The kindergarten waiver form must be filled out and signed by the school principal.