Maine Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Maine, a child must turn 5 by October 15 to start kindergarten that fall. Maine does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Maine's public pre-K program, Public Preschool Program (Pre-K), is available to eligible families (age 4 by October 15, only where the district offers it (not all do); expanding rather than universal).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by October 15 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Public Preschool Program (Pre-K) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 6 |
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Maine age cutoffs — the details
Kindergarten and TK cutoffs are set by state law; preschool has no legal age cutoff because it is private. 20-A §5201 sets a single statewide October 15 reference date for both kindergarten (age 5) and public preschool (age 4). Cutoff verified from the official Maine source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.