A new Ohio law is requiring families across the state to rethink childcare plans after standardizing kindergarten enrollment age requirements.
Under House Bill 114, signed by Mike DeWine, children must be five years old by the first day of school to enroll in kindergarten starting with the 2026–2027 school year. The law took effect March 20, 2026.
Previously, school districts could set their own cutoff dates later in August or September. Now, children who turn five after the school year begins must wait another year.
The change has left many parents scrambling to find preschool or daycare, with limited openings and added costs.
State guidelines note families can choose to enroll children at age five or wait until age six, when school attendance becomes mandatory.
