There are a lot of factors that go into deciding when a child is ready for school. Whether or not to send your child to preschool or wait until kindergarten is just one of the considerations. What are the benefits of having your child attend preschool? How old should your child be? What are the requirements for kindergarten eligibility? What is the age requirement in your state? These and other topics are included in these Preschool and Kindergarten articles.
Oklahoma has proven to be a national leader in early childhood education, with mandatory full-day kindergarten provided in almost every school district and the state’s pilot progressive pre-kindergarten program named by President Obama as a potential model for the entire country in 2013. Here are the top laws and requirements for students entering kindergarten in...
While full-day kindergarten is not mandatory by law in the state of Ohio, young students are required to attend at minimum a half day program. Kindergarten assessments are comprehensive in the state, including a Kindergarten Readiness Assessment-literacy test and diagnostic assessment in the areas of mathematics and English/language arts. The state of Ohio also recently...
Despite no mandatory kindergarten or required full-day programs, between 80 and 89 percent of North Dakota kindergarteners are enrolled in full-day programs. In addition, the state has early learning guidelines in place that help optimize preschool preparedness for the transition to kindergarten. Here are the top laws and requirements in place for students entering kindergarten...
North Carolina was the first state in the nation to make full-day kindergarten universally available and fully funded for its students and the state continues its strong dedication to early childhood education to this day. Preschool standards and kindergarten assessments are in place across the state, with greater than 90 percent of students enrolled in...
The New York State legislature has demonstrated a strong push for early education in recent years. For instance, New York City schools are in September, 2015 offering all eligible students a free, full-day, high-quality pre-K program. However, critics are pointing out that the need for full-day kindergarten is being obscured by the push for preschool...
Although full-day kindergarten is not required according to New Hampshire state statute, there has been a trend toward incorporating such programs in districts across the state. In addition, Kindergarten Readiness Indicators (NH KRI) have been put in place to establish readiness standards for new kindergartners. Here are the top laws and requirements for students entering...
Nebraska views kindergarten as a critical year for young students, establishing the foundation of knowledge on which they will continue to build throughout their formal education. Therefore, Nebraska’s Department of Education has compiled a wide range of documents, webinars, and other resources to establish best practices in kindergarten classrooms. Here are the top laws and...
Although full-day kindergarten is not required by state mandate in the state of Montana, between 80 to 89 percent of kindergarten students were enrolled in full-day programs last year. In addition, the state has in place Montana Early Learning Standards 2014, which set criteria for early childhood education professions working with young children up to...
While full-day kindergarten isn’t mandatory in Missouri, between 80 and 89 percent of students attend full-day programs. This is in part due to the fact that full-day kindergarten is included in the state funding formula, although some districts do charge parents tuition for the program. Here are the top laws and requirements for students entering...
Mississippi is one of the few states in the U.S. to require by law the funding of full-day kindergarten, with over 90 percent of its students currently enrolled in full-day programs. In addition, Mississippi preschool education standards are aligned with K-12 Common Core standards, further strengthening the state’s early education system. Here are the top...