Starting BUSD Kindergarten @ age 6 (seeking success stories)
My daughter has a June birthday. For some very complicated family reasons, we want to wait until she is 6 to enroll her in Kindergarten. I was told BUSD is very strict and they will simply put her directly into first grade once she's 6, even if she has not yet been to kindergarten. But another parent posted on BPN "as there’s no written district policy and the state only outlines minimum but not maximum ages for each grade, the district is on shaky terms with their attempts at regulating this."
Are there any families out there who have been successful at delaying kindergarten for their child and enrolling in kindergarten once their child is 6? For non-medical reasons?
OR Have any families out there opted for an extra year of preschool in lieu of kindergarten, and then enrolled their kids in BUSD at age 6?
Parent Replies
I dont know any success stories but I do know a family who opted for preschool an extra year in COVID times and had no options but to enroll their 6 year old with a June birthday in 1st. I think if you work to teach them reading and math over the summer it will be academically OK, but I cant imagine skipping K is good for kids.
I don’t know anyone who has been successful starting kindergarten at age 6 at BUSD.
It’s pretty common for Montessori preschoolers to remain in preschool for kindergarten year, and I know several families who did that. Their kids started BUSD at age 6 and were placed in 1st grade. They were all prepared for school. A few were behind in reading, but quickly caught up.