Too Young for Kindergarten?

For the past two years, my 4-year-old son has been in the preschool program in our local school corporation. My husband and I want him to stay in this program for another year because he was born prematurely and only makes the cutoff date by two weeks. Also, he is very young socially. The principal and teacher say he must go on to kindergarten. They say he is a follower and would do better following older children.
If we put him in a different preschool for a year, the principal says he would be put in first grade on returning to the district because kindergarten is not required in our state. What can we do? -- Too Young
Answer: Wow! This is the age-old dilemma about the best age for children to enter kindergarten. You do have to keep in mind that every grade is made up of both younger and older children. While early success in school can be influenced by age, you can't predict with any certainty whether being young will be a true disadvantage to your son.
We do not like your son being pigeon-holed as a follower at this early age and don't think this is a valid reason for putting him in kindergarten. Nevertheless, the principal probably does have the right to insist on this placement.
You have several options. You can put your son in a private preschool next year and follow this with enrollment in a private-school kindergarten. Or you can schedule another meeting with the teacher and principal to restate your case. Gather some information on your son's abilities before this meeting. Is he at the top or bottom of his class socially, emotionally and academically?
Also find studies that lay out the problems that younger children, especially those who are premature, may have in school. A third opinion by the school psychologist or a private psychologist who has tested your son's readiness for kindergarten could help everyone make the best decision. Finally, if you don't get the decision that you want, there is always the very slim possibility of presenting your case successfully to the superintendent or school board.