Although originally introduced to potentially impact the fiscal year 2012 budget under the Senate GOP plan, legislation to bump up the required date of birth for a potential kindergartener continues to be debated before the Senate Education Committee as a policy matter. Senate Bill (SB) 315 and SB 316, sponsored by Senator Darwin Booher (R-Evart), proposes to move the required birth date of a child for kindergarten eligibility from December 1st to September 1st.
The measures could save approximately $165 million, hence the proposal’s initial introduction as a one-time fix in the Senate GOP budget.
Only Connecticut and Vermont join Michigan
Under a substitute being considered by the Committee, the date move would go into effect for the 2012-2013 school year, not the 2011-2012 school year. Also being considered is the ability for students to take a test for early eligibility if parents so-decide.
In response to concerns regarding class size during the transition, a presumed reduction in the first year and increase in the second, the legislations’ sponsor indicated a willingness to discuss a phase-in of the date change.