Connecticut General Statute, July 1, 2024, requires that children who turn five years old on or before September 1 of the school year enroll in kindergarten. According to this statute, a child who is not five years old on or before September 1 of the school year may be admitted:
- Upon written request by the child’s parent or guardian to the school principal, and;
- After the principal and an appropriate certified staff member conduct an assessment of the child to ensure that admitting the child to kindergarten is developmentally appropriate.
The Ridgefield Public Schools has and will continue to support all students according to their academic, emotional, and social needs with the understanding that students are unique regardless of age. Therefore, to request a waiver for admittance early entrance to kindergarten a child’s parent or guardian will need to contact the building principal of the child’s neighborhood school.
While we are offering a waiver process for early admittance for the upcoming school year, it is essential that families understand that this is not a path to retention or an additional year of preschool. All applicable policies remain in effect. The program offered to children who turn five after September 1 is kindergarten, and students are expected to progress through the year and to first grade.
