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A bill that would raise the starting age for kindergarten has passed out of the Appropriations Committee. Critics are concerned that it does not provide an alternative for kids whose families cant afford an extra year of preschool.
The idea is to require children entering kindergarten to be five years old by October 1st. This new law would take effect in 2015, and supporters say it would improve teaching and learning because right now, the age range in kindergarten is too wide.
A first version of the bill died in committee when opponents argued that without expanding preschool for low-income kids, many could end up even further behind their more affluent peers.
A second plan re-appeared a few weeks ago and this one required expanded preschool. But on Monday, the preschool requirement was stripped from the bill, and it passed anyway.
Representative Toni Harp chairs the Appropriations Committee. She says things may change in the coming years.
"Hopefully as our revenues improve we will begin to move pre-kindergarten into areas that dont exist, so that by the time that 2015 rolls around that will be less of an issue."
Representative Andrew Fleischmann has been an outspoken advocate for expanding preschool slots. He calls the bill a work in progress. "Right now were talking about July 1st 2015 which is about 4 years away. Were hoping that thats enough time to set up the preschool openings that are needed. There are a range of tweaks that we can consider.
But Cyd Oppenheimer, senior policy fellow at Connecticut Voices for Children, says this change affects close to 7,000 children who would have been eligible for a free full-day educational experience, and under this bill wont be. "It seems unreasonable to pass the bill especially when we know that the major factor in kindergarten readiness has to do with the extent of preparation prior to kindergarten, not absolute age.
Lawmakers say all measures before the Appropriations Committee that involved additional spending were eliminated.
