FAQs: Change to Kindergarten Entry Age

During the 2023 regular legislative session, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 23-208, which changed the automatic entry age and cutoff for children beginning kindergarten.

Children must turn 5 years old by September 1^st of the school year — instead of the previous cutoff of January 1^st — in order to automatically enroll in kindergarten. This change goes into effect beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

This change means any child born between September 2^nd and December 31^st will not be eligible to automatically enroll in kindergarten in the same year as children born earlier in the same calendar year.

This frequently asked questions document covers the legislative change made to the kindergarten entry age in Connecticut and what this change means for the state’s students, families, districts, and childcare providers.