LIHUE, Hawaii >> Preschools on Kauai are reporting long waiting lists following repeal of a junior kindergarten program and a change in age requirements for entering kindergarten.

Val Rita of A Room to Grow school in Lihue tells The Garden Island (http://bit.ly/1kwAMAc) she’s never seen the shortage of space so bad.

Her school has a wait list of almost 60 students, mostly in the 4-year-old category.

The repeal of the junior kindergarten program was signed in 2012 and took effect at the end of the 2013-14 school year.

Children who turn 5 after Aug. 1 will be unable to enroll in kindergarten until fall 2015. Children previously could enter public school if they were at least 5 before Dec. 31.