Kindergarten Entry Age Procedures

In 2023, the Connecticut Legislature changed the birth date cutoff for a child to enter kindergarten. Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, children must be turning 5 years old on or before September 1 of the upcoming school year to be automatically eligible for kindergarten.

Parents/guardians are permitted to submit a waiver to a school requesting early kindergarten admittance for a child who will not turn 5 by September 1, 2024. 

The Friendship School

TFS student enrollments for the 2024-2025 school year will utilize the following birthdate guidelines:

Birthdate Range	2024-2025 Eligibility
September 2, 2021-Present	Not eligible for enrollment at TFS
September 2, 2020-September 1, 2021	Eligible for enrollment at TFS as a PK3 student.
September 2, 2019-September 1, 2020	Eligible for enrollment at TFS as a PK4 student
September 2, 2019-January 1, 2020	Students in this range will default to "PK5 status." Students currently enrolled at TFS may remain at TS as a "PK5 student" unless a parent/guardian submits and receives approval through the waiver application requesting kindergarten placement at their school of choice. Details on LEARN's Waiver Process can be found below.
On or before September 1, 2019	Not eligible for enrollment at TFS

 

Regional Multicultural Magnet School

Birthdate Range	2024-2025 Eligibility
On or before September 1, 2019	Eligible for enrollment at RMMS as a K student.
September 2, 2019-January 1, 2020	Eligible for K enrollment consideration following the LEARN Kindergarten Waiver Process outlined below.

 

LEARN Kindergarten Waiver Process

In accordance with legislation, parents/guardians of students born between September 2, 2019 and January 1, 2020 may apply for a waiver to enter kindergarten in a LEARN school for the 2024-2025 school year. Parents/guardians seeking waiver consideration must:

1. Apply on-time for LEARN's Regional Multicultural Magnet School lottery (between January 1, 2024-March 31, 2024). Late applications submitted after March 31, 2024 will not be eligible for waiver consideration.
2. Contact LEARN's Associate Executive Director, Dr. Ryan Donlon before 5:00 pm on March 31, 2024 indicating that you are requesting a kindergarten waiver. Dr. Donlon's contact information is included below.

Waiver consideration will adhere to the following process:

1. Waiver applicants will be invited to attend an assessment process following the March 31, 2024 application deadline. 
2. The assessment will reflect a developmental "snapshot" in time to inform a discussion of kindergarten readiness.
3. A holistic assessment and recommendation of readiness will be made by a small team of early childhood educators. A final waiver determination will be communicated by LEARN's Associate Executive Director and will be communicated via email to all applicants.
4. Waiver decisions are applicable only at LEARN's Regional Multicultural Magnet School and are not subject to appeal.
5. Students currently enrolled at The Friendship School who are not granted a kindergarten waiver will be offered continued enrollment at The Friendship School for the 2024-2025 school year.

Questions and Contact information

Questions regarding LEARN's Kindergarten Waiver Process may be directed to LEARN's Associate Executive Director, Dr. Ryan Donlon.

Questions regarding kindergarten programming at the Regional Multicultural Magnet School (RMMS) may be directed to Mrs. Elizabeth Beaumont.

Questions regarding pre-kindergarten programming at The Friendship School may be directed to Mrs. Jessica Silvestro.