Currently, there are hundreds of Edmonton kindergarten students who start school at a younger age than their counterparts across the province. But if a new education act is rewritten, the cut-off date for kindergarten may be impacted.

Deciding when a child is read for kindergarten can be a difficult task for parents. And that is especially the case when a child has a late birthday.

The age for kindergarten could change for some families when the province rewrites its education legislation.

As it stands right now, the cut-off date for kindergarten is set by individual school boards. And for some, including the Edmonton Catholic School Board and Edmonton Public School Board, children must be five by March 1st. But for others, children must be five by December 31st.

A preliminary draft of the new education act suggests making the cut-off date the same across the province.

"So that school boards aren't using age as a means of competition," explained Education Minister Dave Hancock.

Hancock says nothing is permanent at this stage, yet the Alberta School Boards Association feel the decision should be made at the local level.

"Where there's more opportunity for children to be involved, they may be more ready then an area that perhaps doesn't offer the same kinds of opportunities," said Jacquie Hansen with the Alberta School Boards Association.

The association says it has been calling for a standardized December 31st cut-off date for years.

"We sometimes see students who really aren't developmentally appropriate entering into the Grade 1 classrooms," said Dennis Theobold with the Alberta Teachers' Association.

But Hancock says just where that cut-off date should be set is up for discussion.

And those parents who question whether March 1st is too early as a cut-off date, hope the province will do more research before a decision is made.

"They're still little and young and at that time playschool suits them," said Jane Balen.

The proposed education act is expected to be introduced in the spring sitting. Hancock says even if the cut-off date changes, parents will keep the right to hold their children back if they feel they are not ready.

With files from Laura Tupper