Bill would prevent 4-year-olds from kindergarten
State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would prevent 4-year-olds from enrolling in kindergarten.
House Bill 100 would require a child to be 5 by Aug. 1 for the start of the 2015-16 school year or by June 30 for the 2016-17 school year.
The bill’s proponents say the measure is needed because many 4-year-olds don’t have prior experience in a classroom and aren’t ready for a kindergarten environment.
“Some younger students, especially four-year-olds, are not developmentally ready for kindergarten,” said Georgia school Superintendent Richard Woods. “Oftentimes their presence in a classroom requires teachers to provide pre-kindergarten services to the disadvantage of the older students who are ready to learn at the kindergarten level and achieve the high academic standards we have in Georgia.”
The bill was written and is being sponsored by Republicans Tom Dickson of Cohutta, Bubber Epps of Dry Branch, Gerald Greene of Cuthbert, Terry England of Auburn and Brooks Coleman of Duluth.
England is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Coleman is chairman of the House Education Committee.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
