CTparentsskeptical of new law requiring kids to be 5 to enter kindergarten: 'It's not a good idea'

Jul. 7—Current 4-year-olds entering kindergarten will be unaffected, as the law takes effect for the 2024-25 academic year.

'It's not a good idea'

One mother, Alésandra Gomez Rios of Norwalk, is glad her daughter, Paulina, 4, can start school this fall because the law won't yet be in effect. Her daughter turns 5 on Oct. 6.

"My husband works," Rios said in Spanish, which was later translated into English. "I also work."

She said day care for her daughter is expensive, and she'd rather not have to pay for it. Regardless, she said she trusts day care more than other options.

"I prefer to pay for a day care because I know that it is safer than having another person babysit her," said Rios, while visiting the Norwalk Public Library on Thursday. "I know she's safer and I know she's going to learn and it's much better for her."

Another mother, Aglaed Gonzalez, agreed that child care is expensive, and that parents are "just going to spend more and more money."

"It's not a good idea," she said outside the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk on Thursday.

Gonzalez is also saved by the bell, as her 4-year-old son, Elijah, will start kindergarten in Hartford this fall.

Arnoldo Guerrero, of Norwalk, was surprised to hear about the new law passing — his 2-year-old, Xoila, will not start kindergarten until 2026 rather than 2025.

He said this law is financially burdensome and that families should determine whether their children start kindergarten at 4 or 5 — not the state.

"Depending on your situation, some families may have that option where their setup is set for them to wait [until their children are 5 to enroll]," Guerrero said, while outside of the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk on Thursday. "Other families are depending on [starting young] just because of the daycare costs."

'It's certainly developmentally appropriate'

Lauren Gaskill Bascom was depending on her son starting kindergarten next year.

She and her family live in Norwalk, but her 3-year-old son, Bowie, attends Earthplace Preschool in Westport.

He will turn 4 in November and therefore will not start kindergarten until 2025.

She said she hopes she can petition to have him enrolled for next year, but will need to manage finances carefully if it's not possible.

"We could take a family vacation if he gets to go to kindergarten [next year]," Bascom said. "We're not struggling to put food on the table, but we are not in a position where money doesn't matter."

Regardless, she said she understands the argument that being 4 in kindergarten is academically challenging.

"I know that having kids [aged] 4 to 6 in one classroom is really challenging for teachers," Bascom said. "I understand why the government wants to change it, to just get in line with the rest of the nation."

Another mother, Laura Banas, of Cheshire, said she taught first grade in New Haven for seven years.

Her son is 5 with a January birthday, so she said he will be "very ready" for kindergarten this year.

She said she favors the new law, arguing that it puts Connecticut closer to educational standards around the world.

"But I know a lot of kids with fall birthdays," she said. "They're going to graduate high school and still be 17. And some of them are going into college at 17."

She said that the law makes it easier for children to academically succeed.

"And when you have a kid who's coming in and not turning 5 until December, that's a really big challenge for them," Banas said. "[The law], it's certainly developmentally appropriate."