Should Kindergarten be Required? By: Ninfa Velazquez

INTASC Standard #5: Application of Content The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues. Name of Artifact: Should Kindergarten be Mandatory in Indiana Date: April 09, 2014 Course EDUC 101 Description:For this Assignment I created a power point giving information and some brief information for the requirements for kindergarten in the State of Indiana Rationale: I feel like I used the same amount of pros and cons and not lean more twords more of one side. I tried to capture the audience attention and really make them second guess what their opinion is.

Overview As of right now kindergarten is not mandatory in the state of Indiana. Parents can choose to enroll their children into kindergarten of the child turns five on or before August 1 st. If the child turns five after the State cut off date for kindergarten the only other option a parent has is to enroll the child in preschool, home school or private kindergarten. A child is not required to be enrolled until the age of seven, which is usually the age in which a child is in first grade.

Pros Language, math and reading skills improve Social skills will grow Free care for parents that have to work 9-5 schedules Free meals (children that apply) Open minded to new things Feel confident and ready for first grade Learn how to share, care and play with other children Consistancy Many opportunities not available at home (computers) Grow as an individual (field trips)

Cons Emotional Distress Children should be Children If they do not do good they can have a negative feel towards school Anxiety can build up Bad influences Not enough sleep (nap time) One less year of expenses They have 12 years of school ahead Behavior Problems (pressure from other children) Self esteem issues

General Information Researchers at the University of Missouri has found that data shows students with birthdays between July 15 and September 15 are being retained more often than children that do not have birthdays with in theses months. This could be due to the children not being emotionally ready or mature enough to start school. The children that waited that extra year were a bit more mature and did not have such a high rate of being retained.

Kindergarten In Other States States cut off dates. Kindergarten Entrance Age: The date by which a student must be five years old in order to attend kindergarten. Jul. 31 – Hawaii (effective ), Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota Aug. 1 – Arkansas, Indiana Aug. 15 – Tennessee (effective ) Aug. 31 – Arizona, Delaware, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington Sept. 1 – Alabama, Alaska, California (effective ), Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin (19 states) Sept. 10 – Montana Sept. 15 – Iowa, Wyoming Sept. 30 – District of Columbia, Louisiana, Nevada, Virginia Oct. 1 – Colorado, Kentucky (Aug. 1 in ), Michigan (effective ) Oct. 15 – Maine Jan. 1 (of the school year) – Connecticut Local education agencies decide (the state may set a date range) – Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont Kindergarten is Mandatory in *15 States plus DC. Kindergarten is not Mandatory in *35 States.

Final Thoughts Are parents not stepping up enough to take on the responsibility of teaching their children at home for that one year? Are we really taking a part away of the children's childhood by sending them to school to soon?