AM1440 - The Information Station : Local Starts Here.: Bill in California Legislature Could Delay Kindergarten for Some Children

Bill in California Legislature Could Delay Kindergarten for Some Children
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Beth Ward on September 02,2010 10:25am
 
KINDERGARTEN WOULD BE DELAYED FOR THOUSANDS OF YOUNGSTERS IN CALIFORNIA UNDER A
BILL WHICH PASSED ON A 21-15 VOTE BY THE STATE SENATE. S.B.-1381 WOULD REQUIRE
CHILDREN TO HAVE TURNED AGE FIVE BY SEPTEMBER 1ST IN ORDER TO BEGIN KINDERGARTEN
IN THAT SCHOOL YEAR. CURRENTLY, THE CUT OFF DATE IS DECEMBER 2ND. THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS ABOUT 100,000 OF THE STATE'S 430,000 CHILDREN START
KINDERGARTEN BEFORE THEIR 5TH BIRTHDAY. THE BILL, AUTHORED BY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
JOE SIMITIAN FROM PALO ALTO, COULD SAVE THE STATE AN ESTIMATED $700 MILLION PER
YEAR BY CUTTING ENROLLMENT. THE BILL WOULD BE PHASED IN OVER THREE YEARS
STARTING IN THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR. IT NOW GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.