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.