Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, Ohio is updating the rules for when students can start kindergarten and first grade. House Bill 114 amended section 3321.01 of the Ohio Revised Code regarding age requirements for kindergarten admission. Under House Bill 114, signed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on December 19, 2025, each school district board of education shall admit to kindergarten any student who is five or, for a student who has not completed first grade, six years of age by the first day of instruction of the school year of admittance.
Families will still have the option to enroll their age-eligible child in kindergarten starting at age five or wait until the child is six years of age. Families planning ahead are encouraged to contact their districts directly to confirm the first day of instruction for future years. The first day of instruction used by a district to determine enrollment may not always align with the first day of kindergarten. Compare your child’s birth date with the school’s start date to determine eligibility.
- If a child turns five or six on or before the first day of school, they can start kindergarten or first grade.
- If a child’s fifth birthday is after the first day of instruction but prior to the first day of January, they can wait and begin kindergarten the next year. Alternatively, families may contact the local school district to refer the child for kindergarten entrance to be admitted in accordance with district policy.
- If a child turns five or six on or after the first day of January of the school year, the family can make a referral, and the child shall be evaluated for early admittance in accordance with the district’s acceleration policy adopted under ORC 3324.10.
Each school district board of education shall admit to kindergarten any student who is five or, for a student who has not completed first grade, six years of age by the first day of instruction of the school year of admittance. After a student has been admitted to kindergarten in a school district or chartered nonpublic school, no board of education of a school district to which the student transfers shall deny that student admission based on the student’s age per ORC 3321.01 (A)(4).
Districts may only use Aug. 1 as the cut-off date if it coincides with the first day of instruction.
Any student who has successfully completed kindergarten per ORC 3321.01(B) shall be admitted to first grade except in cases where a child is evaluated for early admittance according to district policy or the district acceleration policy or if they turn six after the thirtieth day of September of the year of admittance. Any district may adopt a resolution establishing the first day of August in lieu of the thirtieth day of September, as the required date by which students must have attained the age specified in that division for admittance to first grade.
Direct general inquiries to AcademicSuccess@education.ohio.gov. Contact gifted@education.ohio.gov with inquiries related to early entrance or acceleration.