FAQs

What is the age requirement for kindergarten?

In Connecticut, children are eligible to attend kindergarten if they are five-years-old on or before January 1st.

For general information on kindergarten in Connecticut, visit Connecticut’s official State Department of Education (SDE) website using this link. You’ll find a brochure which answers some frequently asked questions about entering kindergarten, eligibility, and cut offs for different aged children.

Can I hold my child back from kindergarten if I don’t think he/she is ready?

While the compulsory age of school enrollment in Connecticut is five years of age, families of children who are five-years-old can decide not to send their children until they are six or even seven years old. Families who make this decision must go the school district and sign an option form.

While children’s kindergarten attendance at five years is up to parents, the Connecticut State Department of Education strongly encourages families to send their children to kindergarten when they are five-years-old.

School districts are responsible for meeting the needs of all kindergarten students regardless of their age or stage of development.
Children who may have special needs can be identified in kindergarten, and special education and related services like speech/language, physical, and occupational therapies can be provided free of charge.
Children who are learning English receive support in kindergarten to make it easier for them to learn English as a second language.
Children with and without special needs learn many skills in kindergarten that are the basis for their learning all the way through school including early reading instruction.

How do I register my child for kindergarten?

Families register their children for kindergarten with their local school district. Generally, school districts promote kindergarten registration widely throughout their communities. There are often community events for kindergarten orientation and registration. Districts provide families with advance knowledge of the various items of information they need to bring to registration, for example, birth certificates, proof of residency, medical forms, etc. The Health Assessment Form (HAR-3) is mandatory for kindergarten children and must have the doctor’s signature and stamp. The required immunizations, physical examinations, and developmental and health screenings are all recorded on this form.

If you are moving into a new community just before school starts or have missed the public promotion of kindergarten activities for some other reason, you can visit your school district’s web site for specific information. Take a look at one district’s web site, Registration-Windsor Public Schools. Scroll down to find kindergarten registration.

Or insert the name of your town and search: ________ public school kindergarten registration.

You can also contact your school district’s central office directly to inquire about how to register your child for kindergarten.

How do I find out if my child is eligible for free or reduced price lunch?

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Child Nutrition Programs offer free and reduced price meals and free milk for income-eligible children. The link above provides information on income eligibility requirements and how to apply.

When will I find out who my child’s teacher is?

In some districts, families will receive their child’s classroom assignment from the school district well in advance of the beginning of the school year. In other districts, this information is not available until just before school starts.

Will I get to meet my child’s teacher, see the classroom, and tour the school before my child starts kindergarten?

Some schools offer some or all of these opportunities as a part of their kindergarten orientation/registration process. If your school doesn’t provide these opportunities, you can contact them directly and request them on an individual basis.

Is it safe for my child to ride the bus?

Many kindergarteners enjoy riding the bus. They enjoy their new independence and often, they make new friends that they might not meet otherwise. Generally, teachers will make your child a bus tag that your child must wear for the first few weeks of school. The bus tag ensures that the bus driver knows your child’s stop.

If my child rides the bus, how will I know where the bus stop is and what time the bus will come?

This information is available through your school district or through the school your child will be attending.