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SB 1381: Kindergarten Age (2010)

Summary

Senate Bill 1381 would require that students starting kindergarten must turn five by September 1st of the school year. The new age requirement would be phased in over three years beginning in 2012
. For those “young fives” (i.e., children turning five from September 2 – December 2) whose kindergarten is delayed, the bill creates a transitional kindergarten.

. The $700 million in annual cost savings resulting from having fewer children in kindergarten remains within Proposition 98 to provide an age and developmentally appropriate transitional kindergarten program for those children whose entry to kindergarten would be delayed.

. A child born after September 1st may still be admitted to kindergarten on a case-by-case basis, if the parent or guardian applies for early admission and the school district agrees that it would be in the best interest of the child.

Resources:

After this bill passed the Legislature, Senator Simitian sent a letter to the Governor urging his signature on this bill.

For more information, you can read the SB 1381 "Fact Sheet" prepared by a member of Senator Simitian's staff.

Final Status and Text

SB 1381 is no longer active. Its final status was:
Signed into Law

You can read its final text on the Legislature's Bill Information site.

How Can I Help?

1) If you represent an organization that would like to submit a formal letter supporting SB 1381, please email Cory Jasperson at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or mail your letter to Joe’s Capitol Office.

2) If Senator Simitian is not your representative, please call or write to your State Senator and State Assemblymember to ask them for their support if SB 1381 comes before them.  You can find out who your representatives are using this form.

3) Please consider writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Shorter letters are more likely to be published; check your newspaper’s submission guidelines.


News & Press Releases about SB 1381

11/10/2012 - State Senator Honored for Kindergarten Readiness Work

11/05/2012 - Simitian Honored Wednesday as Early Learning Champion

09/11/2012 - Editorial: Transitional kindergarten - a good move

08/20/2012 - Students introduced to new TK grade in California

08/14/2012 - As School Starts, CA Launches Its First New Grade Level in More Than a Century

03/16/2012 - Simitian Named 'Education Advocate of the Year' for Kindergarten Law

03/14/2012 - A win for transitional kindergarten

02/11/2012 - Capitol Focus: Nancy Herota and Transitional Kindergarten

02/01/2012 - Editorial: Don't Cut Funding for Kindergarten, Preschool

01/09/2012 - Jerry Brown's Budget Proposes Killing Transitional Kindergarten Funds

11/15/2011 - Preschool California Transitional Kindergarten Implementation Summit

11/04/2011 - California Reading Association Names Simitian 'Policymaker of the Year'

03/01/2011 - Simitian stresses importance of prepping for kindergarten

12/02/2010 - School Boards Name Simitian Education "Legislator of the Year"

11/10/2010 - State Senator honors two teachers who proposed kindergarten law

11/08/2010 - Palo Alto teachers show that grassroots politics can work

11/01/2010 - Reception to honor Palo Alto teachers for Kindergarten Readiness Act

10/02/2010 - New law raises age to start kindergarten in California

10/01/2010 - Simitian's Kindergarten Readiness Act Signed by Governor

10/01/2010 - Schwarzenegger signs 'kindergarten readiness' bill sparked by Palo Alto teachers

09/24/2010 - A new age for kindergarten?

09/15/2010 - Making sure kids are ready to learn

09/13/2010 - Starting kindergarten: later is better

09/07/2010 - Earlier cutoff date to enter kindergarten a step closer in California

09/02/2010 - Bill to raise kindergarten start age heads to governor

09/01/2010 - Kindergarten Readiness Act Passes Legislature

08/24/2010 - Proposed kindergarten cutoff date would mean some California kids start school later

08/12/2010 - Require kindergarteners to be 5 by Sept. 1

06/16/2010 - Making sure kids are ready for kindergarten

06/14/2010 - Bill would keep children under 5 out of school

06/02/2010 - Kindergarten Readiness Bill Passes State Senate

05/17/2010 - Kindergarten eligibility date is key to brighter academic picture

05/06/2010 - Moving kindergarten cut-off date back to Sept. 1 makes sense

05/05/2010 - Adjustment of kindergarten age is good for kids - as well as for state finances

05/05/2010 - Editorial: Bill would aid kids, save tax money

04/29/2010 - When Are Kids Ready to Start School?

04/16/2010 - Editorial: School age reform is a good idea for California students

04/13/2010 - Simitian proposes pushing back kindergarten age cutoff

04/12/2010 - Simitian Introduces Kindergarten Readiness Bill