What's happening
This bill requires all five-year-olds in New York State to attend kindergarten, with certain exemptions for deferment, non-public, or home instruction.
Why it matters
Expands mandatory kindergarten attendance statewide. Previously, only certain city school districts could require five-year-olds to attend kindergarten; this bill extends that mandate to every school district in New York, signaling a major shift in early childhood education policy.
Targets early intervention and school readiness. By ensuring all children begin formal education at age five (unless exempted), the bill aims to promote earlier academic and social development, which research links to improved long-term educational outcomes.
Allows for parental and alternative education choices. The legislation includes key exemptions, permitting parents to defer kindergarten for one year or choose non-public or home schooling, which balances state educational goals with respect for family autonomy and educational diversity.
Potential impacts on families and school infrastructure. Mandating kindergarten for all eligible five-year-olds could increase demand for classroom space, teachers, and resources, potentially affecting district budgets, staffing, and planning, while also potentially reducing disparities in early learning experiences across the state.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Mandate Kindergarten at Age Five
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
350
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, BUCHWALD, COOK, GALEF, GOTTFRIED, SIMON, RAIA, JAFFEE, PEOPLES-STOKES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring minors who are five years old to attend kindergarten instruction
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph c of subdivision 2 of section 3205 of the education law, as amended by chapter 277 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
c. [The board of education of the Syracuse city school district, the board of education of the city school district of the city of New York, the board of education of the city school district of the city of Rochester, the board of education of the city school district of the city of Utica, the board of education of the city school district of the city of Buffalo the board of education of the city school district of the city of Cohoes, the board of education of the city school district of the city of Watervliet, and the board of education of the city school district of the city of Yonkers are hereby authorized to require minors who are five years of age on or before December first to attend kindergarten instruction. However,] In each school district of the state, minors who are five years of age on or before December first shall attend kindergarten instruction, however, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to:
(i) Minors whose parents elect not to enroll their children in school until the following September.
(ii) Students enrolled in non-public schools or in home instruction.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03701-01-9
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.