Thanks to Jessica Kelmon of GreatSchools for her excellent article, When should kids start kindergarten?  Kelmon writes:

Yet another part of the equation with today’s high-stakes testing is that we expect more of kindergartners. Unfortunately, they’re less prepared for success. “Kindergarten is much more academic than ever,” says Emily Glickman, a Manhattan-based educational consultant. “Many people feel that kindergarten is the new first grade.”

Kelmon has also written a worthwhile new story about When Should Kids Repeat a Grade.