MsFriz - in CA the cutoff is Dec.2nd, but if a child has a birthday between Dec.2nd and sometime in March, they can join kindergarten once they turn 5. This is supposedly with the understanding that the child will do an additional year of kindergarten the next year, but it gets them into school and can be a jumping off point to discuss acceleration to first grade the next year. Any chance your state has a similar law and your daughter could join K after her December birthday?

Good luck!