Can You Pull Your Kid Out of Kindergarten?

Yes You Can

• You're the parent and you're well within your rights to pull your child out of kindergarten for any reason. Parents might remove their child from a kindergarten classroom if he isn't learning anything, isn't being challenged, has a teacher who isn't effective or if he's being picked on my other students. A parent can even pull a child out of kindergarten because he's been accepted into a different school or because they need to move to a new area and the current school is too far away. While most states have laws requiring students to attend kindergarten by a certain age, there aren't any laws prohibiting you from pulling your child out of one school and enrolling him in a different kindergarten.

Do This First

• If you're fed up with your child's kindergarten, don't pull him out without trying a few other things first. If you're upset with your child's teacher, make an appointment to meet with her so you can voice your concerns and hear her side of the story. You might also request a meeting with the principal at the school to discuss what's bothering you and see if there is a possible solution that doesn't require you to remove your child in the middle of the school year. Perhaps you could observe in the classroom or have your child switched to a different kindergarten classroom at the same school. Pursue these options first before making your final decision.

It's Tempting

• It might tempting to march into the school, loudly air your problems and then remove your child. This scenario might sound satisfying, but it's not the most appropriate way to deal with your concerns. You might feel happy in the short term, but regret the way you handled the issue in the future. It sends the wrong message to your child, as well, because it will teach him that when something is hard or unsatisfying, quitting is the way to solve the problem.

More To Consider

• Think about how pulling your child out of the school will impact your child. Moving to a new school part way through the school year can be traumatizing to a child who is uprooted from what's become normal for him. He'll be forced to start over making friends, learning classroom routines and working with a different teacher. In some cases, of course, this is far better than leaving your child in a school that's failing him, but it's worth thinking about before making your final decision. Consider whether the issues are your own and have nothing to do with your child. For example, if you just don't get along with his teacher, but he's doing well, you might swallow your pride and leave him in the school.