While Michigan keeps 'fall babies' home, California schools create a new grade

GRAND RAPIDS, MI ? While a new Michigan law will keep many ?fall babies? home for from school for another year, California districts are creating a new grade for them.

?Transitional kindergarten? will open this August in many California districts for children who turn 5 between Sept. 1 and Dec. 2, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Reporter Katy Murphy wrote that there is still some budget wrangling over the new grade, but many districts are proceeding with the plans.

?The earlier kindergarten entry date stemmed largely from teachers' concerns that children entering as 4-year-olds were not socially or academically ready for the grade,? Murphy wrote. ?Still, many educators felt that simply keeping children out of school for another year wouldn't help them succeed, either.?

The new grade offered a slowed-down curriculum with more time for social and emotional development than the traditional kindergarten, which students would attend before being promoted to first grade.

Michigan lawmakers heard similar concerns from teachers about the younger students, but opted to change the starting date without adding the extra grade.

Gov. Rick Snyder last month signed into a law a plan to prevent 4-year-olds from enrolling in kindergarten unless requested by the child?s parents.

Previous state law allows children to start kindergarten in the fall if they turn 5 by Dec. 1 of that year. The new law gradually pushes the date up to Sept. 1.

HB 4513 was sponsored by Rep. Ray Franz, R-Onekama, with a companion bill sponsored by state Sen. Darwin Booher, R-Evart.

Lawmakers said their efforts were backed by teachers union leaders, but superintendents worried about a financial hit came on board after the start-up date was moved gradually.

Children could still start kindergarten early, but parents would have to file a request with their district. The schools can recommend the student not attend, but the ultimate decision rests with the parents.

There are increasing academic demands placed on first-graders, and schools have said they are struggling to get the younger kindergarten students prepared,? Booher said after the bill unanimously cleared the Senate.

?The problem areas are more with those students who were 4 years old when they came in. They end up staying back because you can?t move them up,? he said. ?So is it better to start them later, or start them and have them repeat a kindergarten class, and cost all of our taxpayers again??

The Senate Fiscal Agency said the bill could save the state about $50 million the first year, with the figure changing based on the district?s per-student state aid and the number of parents opting to enroll the younger children. Districts also would have to adjust to slightly smaller kindergarten class sizes for three years.

Email Dave Murray at dmurray@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter @ReporterDMurray or on Facebook.

Source: http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2012/07/while_michigan_keeps_fall_babi.html

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