If your child will not yet be 5 years old by August 31, and you feel he or she is ready for kindergarten, North Carolina Public Schools will still consider "early entry" based on kindergarten readiness testing and a variety of other criteria. Kindergarten readiness testing is used to help parents and schools determine if a younger child should enroll. This testing assesses not only your child’s IQ and academic skills, but also screens their social skills, behavior, emotional development, and attention.