SACRAMENTO, CA – The State Senate Education Committee passed SB 767 by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) a bill that will make kindergarten mandatory, ensuring that all children receive critical instruction in their earliest years of learning.
Currently, kindergarten is optional, and many children enter first grade with academic disadvantages that can cause them to fall behind in school. Senate Bill 767 will require all students to complete one year in kindergarten before they enter first grade. Kindergarten offers foundational social and academic skills needed to succeed in first grade and subsequent years. The bill also includes options for parents to enroll their children in traditional public school, charter school, homeschool, private school or even has the ability to delay their child’s kindergarten enrollment until the age of six.
“As a public school teacher for nearly 20 years, I have witnessed the detrimental impact on young students who miss out on fundamental early education,” said Senator Rubio. “The disparities are not only physically visible in a student’s confidence and participation in class, but are also academically measurable. The best way we can support our students, teachers and parents, is to ensure our students are prepared in class as they move up each grade level. I thank my Senate colleagues for their support and look forward to working with the Assembly and the Governor to continue our efforts in closing the achievement.”
A coalition of educators, school employees and business community support the bill.
“Research shows that Kindergarten is an essential part of a young student’s development. This critical early instruction and socialization serves as an important tool in reducing chronic abseentism. Requiring a full year of kindergarten ensures students receive high-quality academic, social, and developmentally-appropriate learning experiences. This is the right investment for the State of California. Los Angeles Unified is proud to be a sponsor this important bill.” Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho
“The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to continue our support for LAUSD and Senator Rubio’s legislative efforts to expand kindergarten to all. Given the recent impacts of Covid-19 on student attainment, bolstering early education is critical to reverse declining enrollment and reduce gaps in student success. Guaranteed kindergarten is a down-payment on California’s future economic vibrancy and competitiveness.” Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
“We know that kindergarten starts students on the right foot and sets them up for long-term success in language and literacy, math, and social and emotional learning. Mandatory kindergarten would ensure all students enter grade school at an equitable level no matter their background.” Jeffery Freitas President, CFT—A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals
“Early Edge California supports SB 767, which will ensure all California children receive critical Early Learning instruction during their youngest years by requiring that they attend kindergarten prior to entering the first grade. Early Learning is essential for children’s physical, intellectual, and socioemotional development and provides them with the fundamental skills and tools needed for academic success. SB 767 also promotes equity by addressing the opportunity gap, which has been heightened by school closures during the global health crisis, particularly impacting low-income, students of color. Now more than ever, kindergarten enrollment is necessary, and SB 767 will ensure all students receive critical early instruction to prevent them from falling behind,” said Patricia Lozano, Executive Director, Early Edge California.
“The pandemic has had a negative impact on student learning, particularly amongst low-income, K-12 Latino students. School districts across the state are also experiencing drops in student enrollment. This decline is even more prevalent at the kindergarten level and disproportionately affecting low-income households. Now more than ever, kindergarten attendance is necessary to ensure all students receive critical, linguistically and culturally appropriate early instruction to prevent students from falling behind, especially for our dual language learners.” Jan Gustafson-Corea, California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) CEO
“The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to continue our support for LAUSD and Senator Rubio’s legislative efforts to expand kindergarten to all. Given the recent impacts of Covid-19 on student attainment, bolstering early education is critical to reverse declining enrollment and reduce gaps in student success. Guaranteed kindergarten is a down-payment on California’s future economic vibrancy and competitiveness.” Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
“Mandating students to attend kindergarten prior to entering the first grade will ensure all students receive high-quality academic, social, linguistic and developmentally-appropriate learning experiences. It is important for our youngest learners, including our English learners, to be prepared for the educational environment they will encounter in elementary school which will help to narrow opportunity gaps.” Martha Hernandez, Executive Director, Californians Together
“Kindergarten is a fundamental piece of early learning. As California expands transitional kindergarten and other preschool opportunities, kindergarten becomes more important than ever in making sure all kids enter first grade ready to succeed, not only in academics, but in their social-emotional skills. In kindergarten, kids learn how to be in a classroom, how to get along with 20+ other kids, how to wait their turn, and how to problem solve – these skills are fundamental to success in first grade and beyond.” Meredith Yeh, Co-President, California Kindergarten Association
SB 767 is supported by a large number of school districts, labor partners, parents, and educational advocacy organizations. It now heads to Senate Appropriations Committee.
2 comments
Comments are closed.
Add Comment