What's happening
This bill changes the mandatory kindergarten enrollment cutoff date from December 1 to August 31 in New York State.
Why it matters
Shifts the required age cut-off for starting kindergarten from December 1 to August 31, meaning children must now turn six by the end of August to begin that school year. This could result in some children waiting nearly a full year longer before starting school, potentially affecting early childhood development and readiness.
Aligns New York State’s policy with many other states that have earlier kindergarten enrollment cut-off dates,. which could make transitions smoother for families moving between states and create more consistency in the age of students within grade levels.
Could impact childcare needs and costs for families whose children miss the new cutoff,. as they may need to arrange additional care or preschool for several months before their child is eligible for kindergarten.
May influence academic and social outcomes, as relatively younger children in a grade often face different challenges compared to older peers. Delaying school entry for some children could affect their long-term educational trajectory and social-emotional development.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change Kindergarten Cutoff Date
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Held for consideration in education
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3343
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BARCLAY, BUTLER, FINCH, MONTESANO, OAKS, WALTER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOODELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to changing the mandatory date for kindergarten enrollment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 1 of section 3205 of the education law, as amended by chapter 518 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read as follows:
c. For purposes of this article, a minor who becomes six years of age on or before the [first of December] thirty-first of August in any school year shall be required to attend upon full time instruction from the first day that the appropriate public schools are in session in September of such school year, and a minor who becomes six years of age after the [first of December] thirty-first of August in any school year shall be required to attend upon full time instruction from the first day of session in the following September; and, except as otherwise provided in subdivision three of this section, shall be required to remain in attendance until the last day of session in the school year in which the minor becomes sixteen years of age.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all minors entering kindergarten after such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05371-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.