This booklet is in response to commonly asked questions from parents about preparing for, and entering kindergarten. Some questions parents ask are about district policy. Nebraska has over 200 individual school districts, each having their own board, superintendent, and policies. The Nebraska Department of Education provides guidance and…

This booklet is in response to commonly asked questions from parents about preparing for, and entering kindergarten. Some questions parents ask are about district policy. Nebraska has over 200 individual school districts, each having their own board, superintendent, and policies. The Nebraska Department of Education provides guidance and…

In response to Virginia's House Joint Resolution 436, the State's Department of Education recommends that: (1) the present entrance age be maintained until 1995, when voluntary programs for at-risk 4-year-olds become available; (2) the discretionary period (October 31-December 31) be discontinued when voluntary programs for at-risk 4-year-olds…

Twenty-one questions parents may ask about kindergarten are answered in this booklet. Generally, the content aims to clarify the purpose and scope of kindergarten. Several questions have to do with entering a child in kindergarten: the required age, necessary information, attendance regulations, length of school day and screening tests. Questions…

Certain conclusions can be drawn from the fact that both entering school late and being retained in grade have negative effects on children. Children should start school as soon as they are eligible. Retention should be avoided whenever possible. The best alternative to retention in grade seems to be promotion in combination with individual…

This article describes one set of parents' decision to enroll their child in school early. Problems finding someone to test their child and other institutional and social obstacles are described. Tips to guide the decision-making process are offered and the parents' attitudes a year after their daughter's enrollment are presented. (PB)

The evaluation expectations for supervisors observing teacher effectiveness in the classroom are discussed. The classroom observer can identify and describe teaching effectiveness. A trained supervisor should have many frameworks for observing teachers based on the needs of the teacher, type of lesson, and maturity of the students. The use of…

Recent statements by educators and child development specialists support the contention that a child's developmental maturity is the key predictor of success in school. Possible modifications of student placement policies are considered, including establishment of transitional programs for kindergarten graduates not fully ready for first grade.…

Starting school is a transition marked by excitement, trepidation, happiness, or sadness for all involved. This issue of the Australian Early Childhood Association Research in Practice Series discusses some of the issues described as important by children, parents, and preschool and elementary educators in an interview study of children's…

Fall 2005 enrollment data show approximately 73,000 students under the age of 18 enrolled in California community colleges. Given that students under the age of 18 are legally considered minors, community college faculty and staff are often uncertain about their roles and responsibilities for these students. Laws governing the opportunities for…

Describes ways in which well-intentioned efforts to protect young children from inappropriate school practices have had the opposite effect. Readiness testing, retention, transition classes, tracking, and increased entrance age are discussed. Alternative strategies are proposed. (BB)

Noting that the latest messages communicated to the public about the learning problems of American children emphasize children's lack of social maturity and premature school entry, this book examines the many complex issues surrounding school readiness and entry. The 15 chapters are divided into 4 sections. The first section includes an…

The five chapters in this handbook, intended for parents of children entering kindergarten for the first time, offer suggestions about how parents can help their child get ready for school and make starting kindergarten a successful and happy event. Chapter 1 describes when learning begins and offers tips for helping children who are starting…

A survey was made of developmentally immature school-age children enrolled in early childhood services (ECS) in Alberta, Canada. In addition to basic questions of cost, incidence of school-age children's enrollment in the ECS program, and educational impact of delayed or second-year enrollment in ECS programs, questions were raised concerning the…

Intended as a guide to help parents of children from birth to age 5 teach their children the skills needed to make kindergarten a experience, this book consists of an introduction and seven chapters on various aspects of preparing young children for kindergarten. Checklists for parents are included in each chapter. The Introduction discusses what…