Michigan Kindergarten Age Cutoff — Plus Preschool & TK (2026–2027)
In Michigan, a child must turn 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten that fall. Michigan does not have a statewide Transitional Kindergarten grade; children go from preschool/pre-K to kindergarten. Michigan's public pre-K program, Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), is available to eligible families (age 4 by September 1; free for eligible 4-year-olds; expanding toward 'PreK for All' but not yet universal).
| Kindergarten cutoff | Turn 5 by September 1 |
|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | Not offered statewide |
| Public pre-K | Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) — eligibility-based |
| Compulsory school age | 6 |
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Michigan age cutoffs — the details
Kindergarten and TK cutoffs are set by state law; preschool has no legal age cutoff because it is private. A parental waiver lets a child who turns 5 between September 2 and December 1 enroll early with a readiness waiver. Cutoff verified from the official Michigan source. Always confirm the current date with your school or district — rules can change year to year.