December 1, 2025

Dear Parents,

Welcome to kindergarten! We are so excited to have your child join us on this new adventure filled with discovery, growth, and learning. Kindergarten is a truly special time as children begin to develop foundational skills that will benefit them throughout their education.

Recently, you may have heard about a change in Connecticut’s kindergarten age eligibility criteria. Children must turn five-years-old by September 1 to enroll in kindergarten. Previously, the cutoff date was January 1, which meant children as young as four and a half were sometimes entering kindergarten. This adjustment aims to ensure that children have the developmental readiness needed to thrive in this setting, ultimately helping them succeed academically and socially.

The Easton and Redding Schools also accept incoming kindergarten students who turn five-years-old between September 2 to December 31, in accordance with our policy and State Law. The purpose of this letter is to highlight the enrollment process for parents, identify key dates, and provide you with information concerning early admission. 

In making a request for early admission, parents are encouraged to review Table 1, along with the accompanying resources, to consider key developmental milestones that may guide your decision. 

Research suggests that even a few extra months of development can make a significant difference in a child’s ability to handle the demands of a classroom environment. Whatever decision you make, we are committed to supporting each family in understanding this transition and to working together to make this a joyful, exciting year of learning.

Adapted from the publication: Transitioning to Kindergarten. CT Office of Early Childhood

Social/Emotional Learning

Cognition

Language 

Literacy

Numeracy

Gross Motor

Fine Motor

We recommend that all parents consider their child’s individual readiness for kindergarten using developmental guidance provided through the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, the Connecticut State Department of Education, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

The transition to kindergarten marks an important milestone for your child and family. Our goal is to help facilitate this transition and set the stage for your child’s social and academic success. Please contact us if you have any questions. 

Sincerely,

Reference to Public Act 23-208

On June 29, 2023, Public Act 23-208 was approved which, among other topics, states, “public schools shall be open to all children five years of age and over who reach age five on or before the first day of September of any school year.”  Public Act 23-208 also includes the following provision: “a child who has not reached the age of five on or before the first day of September of the school year may be admitted  (1) upon a written request by the parent or guardian of such child to the principal of the school in which such child would be enrolled, and (2) following an assessment of such child, conducted by such principal and an appropriate certified staff member of the school, to ensure that admitting such child is developmentally appropriate.”