DepEd has released a memo for SY 2018-19 – DepEd Order No. 20, series 2018 (DO 20). This policy applies to both public and private schools.
Learners who completed Kindergarten in SY 2017-18 shall be allowed to enroll in Grade 1, given that they turned five years old within that school year. Meanwhile, learners who will turn five years old within this school year shall be accepted in Kindergarten granted that they pass the Philippine Early Childhood Development (ECD) checklist.
Here are more details taken from the DepEd site:
Cut-off period adjustment
Recognizing the difference in school year opening among schools, DO 20 provided for adjustments in the age cut-off period. Thereby, Kindergarten learners should be five years old by July 1, with an extension period until September 30, if their schools open the school year in July; and by August 1, with an extension period until October 31, if their schools open the school year in August.
Private schools are still allowed under DO 20 to add requirements for admission to Kindergarten that are consistent with existing laws and rules.
Transition period
The following transitory provisions of DO 20 shall apply to all Kindergarten and Grade 1 enrollees, in both public and private schools, who may be affected by the policy.
For the upcoming SY 2018-2019, learners who completed Kindergarten in SY 2017-2018 shall be allowed to enroll in Grade 1, given that they turned five years old within SY 2017-2018. Meanwhile, learners who will turn five years old within SY 2018-2019 shall be accepted in Kindergarten granted that they pass the Philippine ECD checklist.
Learners who completed Kindergarten in SY 2018-2019 are allowed to enroll in Grade 1 for SY 2019-2020 as long as they turned five years old within SY 2018-2019, while incoming Kindergarten for SY 2019-2020 must strictly comply with the cut-off age policy of DepEd Order 47, s. 2016, as amended.
By SY 2020-2021, strict compliance to DO 20’s amended enrollment procedure shall be imposed on all incoming Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners.
