File #: Res 1893-2009    Version: * Name: Amend the State Education Law, in relation to strengthening early childhood education by requiring full-day kindergarten and lowering the age of compulsory attendance in New York State to age five. (A.08688)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 4/2/2009
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass A.08688, a bill that would amend the State Education Law, in relation to strengthening early childhood education by requiring full-day kindergarten and lowering the age of compulsory attendance in New York State to age five, or alternatively, to pass legislation allowing New York City to enact such a law locally.
Sponsors: Melinda R. Katz, Inez E. Dickens, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Darlene Mealy, James Sanders, Jr., David I. Weprin, Jessica S. Lappin, Helen D. Foster
Council Member Sponsors: 9

Res. No. 1893

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass A.08688, a bill that would amend the State Education Law, in relation to strengthening early childhood education by requiring full-day kindergarten and lowering the age of compulsory attendance in New York State to age five, or alternatively, to pass legislation allowing New York City to enact such a law locally.

 

By Council Members Katz, Dickens, James, Liu, Mealy, Sanders Jr., Weprin, Lappin and Foster

 

                     Whereas, Currently, State law mandates that a child begin his or her education at six years of age; and

                     Whereas, The New York State Legislature is considering A.08688, sponsored by Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, a bill that would amend the State Education Law to require full-day kindergarten and lower the age of compulsory attendance throughout the state to five years of age; and

                     Whereas, A.08688 would require that all school districts provide full day kindergarten by the 2010-2011 school year and that parents shall have the option to delay their children’s entry into kindergarten by one year, if they so choose; and

                     Whereas, Currently, early childhood education has been shown to provide a positive benefit throughout a child’s formative years and educational years, however, not every child has the opportunity to access that advantage; and

                     Whereas, Requiring full-day kindergarten throughout New York State would ensure that each child has the benefit to begin his or her education earlier and thus be more prepared for elementary school; and

                     Whereas, A.08688 would also benefit lower-income and immigrant parents who may be unable to access or unaware of, alternative means to provide kindergarten study material for their children if it is not automatically provided; and

                     Whereas, The New York City Council alternatively calls upon the New York State legislature to pass a bill that would allow New York City to adopt a local law that would require compulsory attendance and full-day kindergarten for children who are five years of age; and

                     Whereas, state law also permits the City of Syracuse to require full day kindergarten at age five for its residents, and the City of New York has no such requirement; and

                     Whereas, Requiring full-day kindergarten for all five year olds would ensure that more young children in New York City would reap the benefits of early childhood education; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the New York City Council calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass A.08688, a bill that would amend the State Education Law, in relation to strengthening early childhood education by requiring full-day kindergarten and lowering the age of compulsory attendance in New York State to age five, or alternatively, to pass legislation allowing New York City to enact such a law locally.

 

 

AES/MD

LS #6263

11/3/08