Illinois school age calculator

Illinois kindergarten law: September 1 cutoff

Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/10-20.12) requires that children be 5 years old on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten. This is applied uniformly across all Illinois school districts. Compulsory school attendance begins at age 6 in Illinois; however, a child who turns 6 during the school year without previously attending school is typically assessed for kindergarten versus Grade 1 placement. Illinois has no statewide Transitional Kindergarten program, though some districts (particularly in the Chicago suburbs) offer optional pre-K or extended-day programs for 4-year-olds.

Illinois Preschool for All: the state-funded pre-K program

Illinois operates one of the most extensive state-funded pre-K systems in the US through the Preschool for All (PFA) program, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). PFA serves 3- and 4-year-olds at risk of academic failure, with income eligibility generally at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. The program provides free, part-day or full-day pre-K at public schools and community partner sites. To apply, contact your local school district's early childhood coordinator — applications typically open in February or March for the following fall. Priority is given to income-eligible families, but some districts enroll moderate-income families when seats remain.

Chicago Public Schools Pre-K programs

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) operates one of the largest urban pre-K systems in the country, with both income-based and universal options. CPS Chicago Early Learning offers free pre-K to 3- and 4-year-olds who meet income criteria through the city's Chicago Early Learning application portal. CPS has also expanded seats through the Childcare Expansion Program. Enrollment for CPS pre-K opens in February through the Chicago Early Learning online application. Families rank program preferences, and seats are assigned by lottery among eligible applicants. For kindergarten, CPS enrollment opens in November–December for the following fall via the Chicago Public Schools School Finder.

Enrollment process: what to bring and when to apply

Illinois school districts outside Chicago typically open kindergarten enrollment in January–March for the following fall. Required documents at most Illinois districts: original birth certificate, proof of Illinois residency (utility bill or lease in the parent/guardian's name), up-to-date Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination (a physical exam within one year of enrollment start), and Illinois Certificate of Child Health — Dental (dental exam required within 18 months prior to or 60 days after starting kindergarten). Illinois also requires proof of required immunizations including DTP, polio, MMR, Hep B, Hep A, and varicella. Eye examination is also required for kindergarten entry.

If your child misses Illinois's September 1 cutoff

Children born after September 1 must wait until the following fall for public kindergarten in Illinois. During the gap year, Head Start programs serve income-eligible families with children 3–5. Private preschool and daycare centers serve families not meeting Head Start income thresholds. Some Illinois districts allow children who miss the cutoff by a small margin to attend a readiness assessment — parents can ask their local district about this option. Research consistently shows that being among the older students in a kindergarten class provides lasting academic advantages; waiting the extra year is often the right call for late-summer and early-fall birthdays.

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