You wanted to know: (1) the age at which children are eligible (but not required) to enroll in kindergarten in each state and (2) if states would save money on special education services by increasing that age, the idea being that states would not be required to provide services for an additional year.

The minimum kindergarten enrollment age varies by state. As shown in Table 1 below, three states require students to turn five on or before August 15 in order to enroll in kindergarten. Thirty-six states and Puerto Rico have kindergarten entrance cut-off dates between August 31 and October 16. Five states (including Connecticut) and the District of Columbia have cut-off dates between December 1 and January 1. Another six states allow local districts to determine the entrance age.

However, under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, states receiving federal special education funds are required, with some exceptions, to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities who are aged three to 21 (34 CFR. § 300. 300). As a result, most states, including Connecticut, require school districts to provide services to students requiring special education before they reach kindergarten (CGS § 10-76a). In most instances, if the kindergarten enrollment age were increased, states would be still be required to provide special education services to affected students. Table 1 provides the age ranges for which state education departments must provide special education services. In some instances other state agencies are responsible for the provision of early childhood special education.

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