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Kindergarten teacher asks whether families can request an additional year of kindergarten
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Summary
Nancy Braun, a kindergarten teacher at ICSC, asked the board whether families whose children turn 5 during kindergarten can request that their child repeat kindergarten; board members said they will research policy and legal guidance and recommended continued discussion via an early childhood advisory group.
At the start of public comment, Nancy Braun identified herself as a kindergarten teacher at ICSC and asked the board to clarify whether parents whose children start kindergarten at age four (turning five during the school year) can request another year of kindergarten if developmental concerns exist.
Braun described classroom experience where families and teachers raised the issue and asked whether policy or regulation prevents granting an additional kindergarten year. "Can families whose students start kindergarten when they're still 4 and they turn 5 during their kindergarten year... can they request that their student get another year of kindergarten? Is there any policy why we can't do that?" she asked.
Board members and staff responded that they would do further research and consult district counsel and NYSED guidance. The chair said the prior conversation Braun recalled referred to pre‑K rather than kindergarten and recommended the board continue the topic with research and possibly re‑establish an early childhood education advisory council. Board members discussed retention research and equity concerns, with one member noting research shows retention can disproportionately affect marginalized students.
No formal action was taken; staff committed to follow up with clarified legal/regulatory guidance and report back to the board and community.
