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Connecticut Office of Early Childhood
450 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: 860-500-4412

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Kindergarten Entrance Age Plan

Last updated January 14, 2020

 

P.A. 14-39 (H.B. 5562)

 

Sec. 9. (Effective July 1, 2014) The Office of Early Childhood shall develop, in consultation with the Department of Education, a plan for (1) changing the date that a child must reach five years of age to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten under section 10-15c of the general statutes from January first of any school year to October first of any school year, and (2) the creation of spaces in school readiness programs and public and private prekindergarten programs for those children who reach five years of age after October first of any school year and are not eligible to enroll in kindergarten for such school year.

Not later than June 30, 2015, the office shall submit such plan to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.

Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Report on Changing the Kindergarten Entry Date (pdf)

 

The Office of Early Childhood, in consultation with the State Department of Education, will develop a kindergarten age enrollment plan, changing the date that a child must reach 5 years of age for kindergarten enrollment from January 1 to October 1.

The plan will:

  • Be submitted to the Education Committee no later than June 30, 2015;
  • Include a recommendation for a date for implementation of the plan; and,
  • Include recommendations on how the plan should be implemented (single step, phased, etc.)

In developing the kindergarten age plan, the OEC will consider the impact the change will have upon:

  • Four-year-olds born between October 1 and December 31 who will require an extra year of preschool due to the change;
  • Four-year-olds born between October 1 and December 31 whose families cannot afford access to quality preschool for another year;
  • Availability of affordable, high-quality preschool for four-year-olds born between October 1 and December 31; and,
  • Availability of affordable, high-quality preschool for three-year-olds who may lack access to preschool as a result of the change in the kindergarten age and increase of four-year-olds still enrolled in preschool.