JEFFERSON CITY—Two kindergarten start dates may soon be offered in school districts across the state if a bill that today received initial approval from the Senate is enacted into law.
Senate Bill 969 allows a school district to offer, by majority vote of the school board, two start dates for kindergarten. One date would occur on the district’s normal starting date for kindergarten and the other would occur approximately halfway through the year. Under the bill, a district that adopts a second start date for kindergarten students would not lose eligibility to receive state aid—regardless of the timing or number of days of actual pupil attendance. Also, school districts would be required to give parents a choice regarding their child’s kindergarten start date.
In addition, a child who begins kindergarten on the second start date in the school year could potentially be promoted to first grade the next school year if the student's teacher and principal find that the student is adequately prepared. However, the student's parent or guardian may request that the student remain in kindergarten for an additional year.
Another portion of the bill only applies to the St. Louis City or Kansas City school districts, and would require—beginning in the 2011–2012 school year—any parent who chooses to send his or her child to a public, private, parochial or parish school to do so at age six.
Senate Bill 969 needs one more passing Senate vote before moving to the House for similar consideration. The measure contains provisions similar to those found in SB 815, which was passed by the Senate earlier in the month.
The Second Regular Session of the 95th Missouri General Assembly runs through May 14, 2010. For more information about the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. To contact the Senate Newsroom, call (573) 751-3824 or e-mail newsroom@senate.mo.gov.
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