This is one reason I'm glad we're where we are. DD has a Sept 5 birthday and all the northwest states have a Sept 1 cutoff. CA right now is Dec 3 so she is able to go this year (was ready to go last year when gifted big brother went but that's another story, lol).

I agree with a soft cutoff of Sept 1 but they should have a way to 'override' the age cutoff for specific cases. I've heard some states have a month 'leeway' and can allow a child just past the cutoff in if they wish.