To be eligible for public kindergarten in Florida, children must meet a specific age requirement set by state law.
Florida's Kindergarten Age Requirement
Based on Florida law, specifically Section 1003.21(1)(a)2, Florida Statutes, the primary requirement for kindergarten eligibility is tied to a child's age by a specific date.
- Children must have attained the age of five years on or before September 1 of the school year for which they are seeking admission.
This means that if your child turns five on or before September 1st of a given school year, they are eligible to enroll in public kindergarten for that year. If their fifth birthday is after September 1st, they would typically need to wait until the following school year.
Key Eligibility Details
Here's a quick breakdown of the core requirement:
- Required Age: 5 years old
- Cutoff Date: On or before September 1st
- Legal Basis: Section 1003.21(1)(a)2, Florida Statutes
Example: For the 2024-2025 school year, a child must have turned five on or before September 1, 2024, to be eligible for kindergarten.
While state law sets this standard, local school boards prescribe specific rules for admission based on this law. However, the fundamental age and date criteria are consistent statewide.
