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Transition to Kindergarten Parent Guides: Will My Child Benefit From an Extra Year of Kindergarten?

Source: Michigan Department of Education
Topics: Kindergarten Readiness, Michigan

Michigan allows a child who is five years old on or before December 1 to sign up for kindergarten.

Kindergarten is a one-school-year program before first grade.

Starting kindergarten may be a time of concern for some families and teachers.

If you are thinking about sending your child to developmental kindergarten, you should know these things:

  • Developmental kindergarten is intended to provide children who are not ready an extra year of schooling.
  • Children who attend developmental kindergarten and then go on to kindergarten have school records that indicate they were retained.
  • It is not true that holding your child back will help him/her socially or academically or to have success in sports.
  • In fact, research shows that children who attended developmental kindergarten and then kindergarten have no long-term gains.
  • Children who attended two years of kindergarten may have lower self-esteem and are 30 percent more likely to drop out of high school.
  • Age does not matter in an appropriate kindergarten.
  • Kindergarten should be ready to support all children.
  • School success differences between the oldest and youngest children in a class tend to disappear by third grade.
  • Teachers and parents tend to hold back the youngest children.

Advice to families:

  • Become familiar with the kindergartens in your area. Are the staff members ready to meet the needs of ALL children?
  • Find out why families are holding their children back.
  • Keep the future in mind. How old will your child be in middle school? At what grade will he/she be old enough to drive? At what age will your child graduate from high school?

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