Alaska Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Alaska, a child must turn 5 by August 15 to start kindergarten that fall. Alaska does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Alaska's public pre-K program, Alaska Pre-Elementary / Head Start-based programs (DEED), is available to eligible families (no statewide universal pre-K; public early-education serves 4-year-olds (age 4–5 by June 1)).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by August 15 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Alaska Pre-Elementary / Head Start-based programs (DEED) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 6 |
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Alaska age cutoffs — the details
Kindergarten and TK cutoffs are set by state law; preschool has no legal age cutoff because it is private. Cutoff verified from the official Alaska source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.