[AdoptAmiga]

House bill 4662 is on its second reading that would take effect January 1, 2009.

This bill would require parents to send five year olds to school (currently attending/providing K is voluntary, compulsory education begins with grade 1/age 6), requiring full-day K beginning w/ the 2011-12 SY AND phasing in increased age cut-offs. Current law is a child must be 5 years old by Dec. 1. This law would phase in a cut-off date of Nov. 1 for 2009/10 SY, Oct. 1 for 2010/11 SY and Sept. 1 for 2011/12 SY and forward. This bill would also allow for a parental waiver.

This bill would only be in effect for those schools (including some charter schools) that fail to make adequate yearly progress under the NCLBA for two consecutive years.

Currently, some schools/districts voluntarily offer a full day K program, but it is far from the norm. Please contact your representative about your feelings (pro or con) on this issue.

IMO, I believe that K should be full-time for all Michigan 5 year olds. I also support the change for an increased age. Requiring students to be 5 years old upon entering K helps to ensure greater "equal footing". Some private schools have already instituted their own age cut-off dates (typically Sept.1).

Currently, only 14 stated make Kindergarten mandatory and 9 states require full-day Kindergarten. (BTW- Michigan is only 1 of 3 states that provide special education servies to ages 0-26. Most states have the age range of 3-21.) Let's help (and keep) Michigan a leader in education by supporting this bill to also include ALL Michigan five year olds. Thanks for reading!