After two years of preschool, 5-year-old Rebecca Emter is excited to start school in a few weeks.

“She’d go tomorrow if she could,” mom Beth Emter said.

Rebecca will begin going to kindergarten for half days at Clancy School, even though full-day kindergarten is offered.

Because Beth knows Rebecca has at least 18 more years of schooling ahead, she doesn’t feel the need to rush, and she says going to kindergarten half days will provide an adjustment period for her daughter to become acclimated with the public school setting.

After that, Beth will take it week by week, and when she decides Rebecca is ready, she’ll be open to sending her to kindergarten full time.

Deciding whether a child is ready for kindergarten can be daunting for some parents — Montana law says children don’t have to attend kindergarten and they don’t have to be in first grade until they are 7.

They can attended kindergarten starting at 5.

In some countries, like Sweden, Denmark and Finland, children don’t begin until the age of 7

The Helena School District will accept children for kindergarten who turn 5 by Sept. 10.

“We accept children where they are developmentally, academically, and socially — we work on all those areas,” said Teresa Burson, literacy and curriculum administrator for the district.

Helena doesn’t offer a formal kindergarten screening, but does supply information to parents who aren’t sure of their child’s readiness.

The East Helena School District held a kindergarten screening in early June.

Radley Elementary Principal Joe McMahon said the district focuses on evaluating fine and gross motor skills, language, and overall concept developments like letters and colors recognition.

Mostly, McMahon says, they are looking for possible delays so they can begin interventions early.

“We rarely ever advise parents not to bring their 5-year-old to school,” he said.

Of the 130 students screened in the spring, four will wait another year based on parents’ decisions.

Helena has approximately 535 kindergartners registered for the fall, and it’s unknown yet how many will opt to attend for half days instead of full days, which are being offered for the second year.

Lona Carter-Scanlon, principal at Jefferson Elementary, says oftentimes children are ready to attend full-time kindergarten at 5, but parents are the best judges.

“There are some children that just aren’t ready — developmentally, emotionally or socially,” she said. “They would benefit with another year of preschool or home with mom and dad.”

That’s how Chrissy Murgel felt about her son Connor. Chrissy waited until Connor was 6 to enroll him in kindergarten two years ago.

“He was ready academically, but socially he was so painfully shy, I couldn’t bear to send him that soon,” the Helena High English teacher said. “It made a huge difference because he grew so much academically and socially it was amazing to see what a difference one more year could make with him.”

Connor is now in second grade, and teachers tell Chrissy he’s not only a leader for other students but a good role model as well, which she attributes to that extra year of maturity.

Baby Center/Parent Center, an online resource for parents, found in an online poll that 63 percent of parents felt that children were ready for kindergarten at age 5. But the jury is still out about the effectiveness of sending a child to school at that age.

For example, a study conducted by the Cambridge-based educational journal Primary Review scrutinizes how primary education is organized and challenges the idea that an early start gives long-term advantages. The study found that there hasn’t been enough research in children’s later educational achievements to conclusively answer the question.

For parents, the research comes one student at a time.

Some base their decision on guidance from daycare providers, doctors or preschool teachers, while others go with their gut.

Kristi Freeman stayed home with her daughter Katie, who turned 5 in February, and didn’t send her to preschool. Katie begins kindergarten at Rossiter Elementary this year because Kristi and her husband feel their daughter is ready.

“She’s just at a point we both knew she was ready to start school and learn more than just what staying at home is going to teach her,” Kristi said.

Greg Upham said parental involvement and evaluation is critical. Upham, principal at HHS and parent of two who started school at age 6, said it’s the parent responsibility from the begining to continually evaluate their children. The decision when to start children is individual and the key is to make sure school is enriching at any age.

State Superintendent Linda McCulloch said it’s all about what happens in the next couple years after kindergarten that should encourage parents to start their children early.

“Research shows if a child can’t read at grade level by the end of third grade it’s very difficult for a child to catch up,” she said. “The more we can front load education, helping the child be able to learn their letters and things having to with reading is a good thing.”

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com