Paige Lee, a Wayzata parent, raised concerns during the audience-opportunity portion of the Jan. 12 board meeting about a recently implemented preschool and pre-K registration guideline that she said limits placements for children with summer birthdays. Lee said the rule effectively prevents some children who turn 5 in June–August from enrolling in district preschool or pre-K and forces families to seek alternatives or place children into kindergarten earlier than recommended by families or teachers.

Lee said she spoke with several nearby districts (Orono, Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, Maple Grove/Osseo) and found their policies use a Sept. 1 cut-off without provisions that exclude children who turn 5 in the summer. Lee, who said her daughter has social‑emotional delays and an IEP, requested the board consider exemptions for developmentally appropriate placement and urged the district to account for long-term effects of accelerating children into kindergarten.

Board members listened and acknowledged the public comment; the district did not announce policy changes at the meeting. Administration and board members suggested staff follow up with families and review screening and placement practices.

Lee asked the board to consider both family choice and developmental readiness in enrollment guidelines.