Matthew has an Aug. 12 birthday, which means that he would turn 5 the day before school started. A preschool teacher, Barron had advised many other parents to give their children more time. In the end, she was persuaded by Matthew's preschool teacher that he was ready. And while she'd do it again, she continues to urge other parents to give their children an extra year if they can. But I have had parents thanking me that they followed my advice and waited.
Many principals disagree.
Rebecca Poplin, principal of Degan Elementary School in Lewisville, Texas, says her district offers a developmental first grade for graduating kindergartners who aren't ready for first grade. That gives them an extra year to work on skills in a supportive environment with other kids. But in Flower Mound, Texas, Dan Van Horne, principal of Garden Ridge Elementary School, feels that parents should think twice before enrolling their children. A U.S. Department of Education study shows that having that extra year does help children succeed. The report, which tracked 19,000 children attending 940 public and private schools, shows older kindergartners are closer to being able to read and do arithmetic, have more advanced motor skills and are more socially adept and less prone to problem behaviors than their younger classmates.