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Thread-Topic: Kindergarten Enrollment Cut-off
From: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
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Subject: Kindergarten Enrollment Cut-off
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2016 19:44:11 -0500
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<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Ms.</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Abigail</FIRST>
<MIDDLE></MIDDLE>
<LAST>Ostrander</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION></ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>313 Ashby St.</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Summerville</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29486</ZIP>
<EMAIL>abigail.ostrander@gmail.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H></PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B></PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>EDUC</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>Kindergarten Enrollment Cut-off</SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>98.124.124.84</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
Honorable Governor Hailey,

I wanted to reach out to you and give you some feedback on the South Carolina's kindergarten enrollment cut-off date.  Currently the date is set at September 1.  In general, I don't have an issue with this date as a guideline, but I feel that the process to appeal this (so that a child may start kindergarten a few months before turning five) is inflexible and works against promoting advanced education.

My second child has expressed an interest in starting kindergarten.  He is born in December, so just three months after the kindergarten enrollment date cut-off.  He is currently reading between a first and second grade level.  I took this issue from the school level, to the district level, to the SCDE.  BCSD will only evaluate children born in September or November for early admittance.  When I e-mailed the South Carolina Department of Education to ask who to address my concerns with the issue to, I received a curt response that it was simply state law.  

I'm sure many parents think their children are advanced and should start school "early," and to evaluate every child that is "bright" would be an administrative nightmare, but I also think denying a child education when the child is ready is a bit backwards.  It feels especially backwards when I know a child who keeps getting "passed" on to the next grade when he should've been held back all because his mother has called in and complained loud enough.  This child is now in 3rd grade with the abilities of a first grader because twice they have tried to hold him back but his mother has been successful in complaining.  So it is acceptable to have a child in a grade they are not ready for because he is "old enough" but it is not acceptable to have a child start kindergarten cause he is deemed "not old enough" by state law?   This seems to me that the law is more on the side of those who are old and failing than it is for those who are younger and ready to be challenged.  

Governor Hailey, I am not saying the law has to be changed, but I feel that the appeals process is too rigid.  The cut-off date is a fine guideline, but there has to be exceptions so that the state of South Carolina is promoting academic excellence especially in early education.  I don't understand why a child doesn't have to legally be in school at the age of six if his parents sign a waiver, but a child cannot attend school at the age of four years and nine months even if he has the ability and interest to start.  The message sent is that we can delay education but not advance it.

Thank you for your time.


Best Regards,

Abigail Ostrander


</MSG>

</APP>