Children who are academically and developmentally ready to enter kindergarten but don’t meet state age requirements cannot get waivers into public school systems in 18 states despite their abilities, according to a study due to be released this week by the National Association of Gifted Children.
Most states continue to sort students by age instead of ability—and that’s to everyone’s detriment, said Jane Clarenbach, the director of public education for the Washington-based advocacy organization.
“It ought to be about readiness,” she said.
The association’s report which is due to be released in full on Nov. 7—found that 18 of 42 reporting states directly prohibit the admission of very young, but often gifted, children into their public school systems. Ms. Clarenbach said educators and school administrators sometimes believe that young children cannot be effectively assessed for giftedness, though that is often not the case.
