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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires kindergarten instruction for Rockland and Westchester counties for minors who are five years of age on or before December first
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S876
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring minors who are five years old to attend kindergarten instruction
Purpose
To require all 5-year-olds in Rockland and Westchester counties to attend kindergarten instruction.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends subdivision 2 of section 3205 of the education law by adding a new paragraph d to provide that in each school district in the counties of Rockland and Westchester, minors who are five years of age on or before December first shall attend kindergarten instruction.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
Attending kindergarten should not be optional. Years of research has proven that kindergarten is a crucial time in the development of children and that those who attend kindergarten perform better in school. The state education law states that 5-year-olds are entitled to a free public education, yet school attendance is not compulsory until a child is 6' years of age. Due to this anomaly, a school district that did not offer kindergarten instruction would be required to enroll a 5-year-old and place them in a first grade class. This is not an appropriate placement for a 5-year-old. Additionally, many parents are not aware of this law, especially those with less education or living in high-needs areas, whose children would benefit the most from kindergarten.
While all the school districts in the state currently offer kindergarten, some districts facing budgetary challenges have threatened to eliminate it since it is not required by law in most of the state. New York City, Syracuse and Rochester already require all 5-year-olds to attend kindergarten. This legislation will add Rockland and Westchester counties, both of which have recently had school districts threaten to eliminate kindergarten instruction. Children must be protected from the baseless threat that kindergarten will be eliminated.
Legislative history
2013-14: S5056/A5786-A - Passed Senate/Held in Education
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect of the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.