Ohio school age calculator
Ohio's kindergarten cutoff changed for the 2026–27 school year. Under HB114 (signed December 2025, effective March 2026), the cutoff is now the first day of school in each district — not a fixed statewide date. Enter your child's birthday and use the cutoff override to enter your district's first day of school.
Select your country and region, then choose the child's date of birth to see their grade and school timeline.
What Ohio HB114 changed
Ohio House Bill 114 (136th General Assembly) was signed December 19, 2025 and took effect March 20, 2026. It revised Ohio Revised Code 3321.01 to change the kindergarten cutoff from the previous August 1 statewide date to the first day of school in each individual district. Since Ohio districts typically start school between August 15 and September 5, the effective cutoff is now somewhere in that window depending on your specific district. A child who turns 5 on or before the first day of school in your district is eligible for kindergarten that year.
How to use the calculator for Ohio after HB114
Because the cutoff is now district-variable, use the cutoff override field in the calculator. Set it to the month and day of your district's first day of school — you can find this in your district's school calendar, typically published on the district website by June each year. If your district starts August 22, set the override to August 22. The calculator will then correctly show whether your child qualifies and their full K–12 timeline.
FAQ
What is Ohio's kindergarten cutoff date in 2026?
Under HB114 (effective 2026–27), Ohio's cutoff is the first day of school in each district — no longer a fixed statewide August 1 date. Check your district's school calendar for the exact first day of school and use that as the cutoff.
Did Ohio change its kindergarten cutoff date?
Yes. Ohio HB114, signed December 19, 2025, changed the cutoff from August 1 (the previous statewide standard) to the first day of school in each district, effective the 2026–27 school year.
My child turns 5 in August — can they start kindergarten in Ohio?
It depends on your district's first day of school. If your district starts school on August 20 and your child turns 5 on August 22, they do not qualify. If the first day is August 25 and the birthday is August 22, they do. Look up your district's calendar and use the cutoff override in the calculator.