My dd is level 4. She has never worked on kips in practice. She might have it by the time she moves up to level 5 just from playing around with them at open gym. Most of the girls that moved up to level 5 this year did not have their kips, but now a few months later most of them seem to have it. Our gym really seems to stick to the basics and we don't uptrain. Pretty much level for level all skills are mastered before girls move up.