By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2009 – Young military children who thought the first day of school was imminent may not have to worry about reading, writing and arithmetic until next year because of a change in entrance age requirements.
The new rule, which goes into effect this fall with the start of the 2009-2010 school year, requires that students reach the pre-established age by
Sept. 1.
Students must be 4 years old to enroll in pre-kindergarten or the
Defense Department’s Sure Start program. Kindergartners must be 5, and
first graders, 6. Under current rules, children have to reach the above
ages by Oct. 31.
The
Department of Defense Education Activity made the change after research
showed that 36 states require kindergartners to be 5 by Sept. 1 or
earlier, Marc Mossburg, chief of curriculum for DoDEA, said.
“This
was done nationally for a variety of reasons, but it basically gives
most kids a sure start in kindergarten and first grade,” Mossburg said.
“We did make the choice to align ourselves with the nation. We’re
trying to keep pace with the nation and trying to make sure our
military kids have that advantage.”
DoDEA’s decision to
implement the change also was, in part, an effort to ease the
transition of students who start in a defense school, but then transfer
to a public school, Mossburg said.
“We wanted to make sure
that our kids, if they go to kindergarten and they transfer to a first
grade in the States, that they are ready to enter that first grade,” he
said.
Consequently, students who have completed a year at an
accredited kindergarten and then transfer to a DoDEA school can enroll
in first grade regardless of whether they meet the age requirement,
Mossburg said. There are considerations for kindergartners who transfer
after starting school but before completing kindergarten, as well.
“We
realize we deal with the military population. Our exceptions are based
upon those families who [transfer] here and they’ve already started
kindergarten,” he said. “They’re enrolled in kindergarten. They’re
going to kindergarten for a week, or a month, or six months and they’re
younger and they come into our [program], we don’t say, ‘Oh, you don’t
meet our [age requirement].’
“We accept them, but that’s where
the exceptions are; those students whose parents are [transferring]
during the school year,” he added.
Mossburg knows that some
parents and students eagerly awaiting that first day of school may be
disappointed in DoDEA’s decision, but he’s confident the change was
made in the best interests of the students.
Lori Pickel,
DoDEA’s acting early childhood coordinator, who has already encountered
this situation, agrees. Her son didn’t meet North Carolina’s age
requirement to start kindergarten when the military family was
stationed in the state. But, she said, how that realization affects
students is really up to the parents.
“We all know that our
kids’ first teachers are parents,” she said. “We set the stage in our
attitude and the way we’re going to accept it.
“You … as the parent, have to choose: Is it going to be a positive or a negative?” she said.
Parents
whose students don’t meet the age requirements by Sept. 1 have options
for their children, including the Defense Department’s child
development centers, Mossburg said. The centers teach a developmental
program like that used in DoDEA’s preschools.
In addition, if
a parent feels their student can handle some advanced work, regardless
of their age, DoDEA offers parent guides by grade on its Web site. The
guides provide grade-appropriate standards and activities.
Related Sites:
Department of Defense Education Activity
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