What's happening
The bill requires five-year-olds in Rockland and Westchester counties to attend kindergarten, with exceptions for certain students.
Why it matters
Expands early education requirements. By mandating kindergarten attendance for five-year-olds in Rockland and Westchester, the bill seeks to ensure all children in these counties receive foundational early learning, which is linked to better long-term academic and social outcomes.
Promotes educational consistency. Requiring kindergarten for most children helps standardize the starting point for elementary education, potentially reducing disparities in preparedness when students enter first grade.
Includes key exemptions. The bill allows parents to delay kindergarten by a year and exempts homeschooled children and those in private schools, balancing public education goals with parental choice and educational freedom.
Targets regional disparities. By focusing specifically on Rockland and Westchester, the bill could address unique local needs or gaps in kindergarten enrollment that may not exist—or be as pronounced—in other parts of New York State.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Kindergarten Age 5
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-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
591
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, COOK, STECK, HEVESI -- 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. Subdivision 2 of section 3205 of the education law is amended by adding a new paragraph d to read as follows:
d. 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, 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.
LBD02043-01-5
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.