RE: Kindergarten entry age, retention, full day

I fully agree.  But there needs to be flexibility built in.  I started first grade at age 5.  There was no kindergarten in the one room country school where I grew up.  But I was already reading.  There are options.  A developmental kindergarten for those not ready for what is expected now is one option.  A non graded K-2 classroom is another.  I like the option of having young children stay with the same teacher for more than one year.  Children are not widgets and one size does not fit all.  When we talk about children ready for school, we also need to talk about schools ready for children, all children.  Able to accept them where they are and take them to where they need to be.

I know of nothing sadder than a 5 year old child that feels like a failure.