CA Assembly Education Committee Passes Mandatory Kindergarten by Senator Rubio

SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Assembly Education Committee today passed a mandatory kindergarten bill by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) that will ensure all children receive critical instruction in their earliest years of learning.

SB 70 will require all students to complete one year in kindergarten before entering first grade to ensure children are prepared socially and academically before entering elementary school. Currently, parents are able to delay their child’s entrance into school until the first grade.

“As a public school teacher for 17 years, I have witnessed the detrimental impact on young students who miss out on fundamental early education,” said Senator Rubio. “The voluntary participation for kindergarten leaves students unprepared for the educational environment they will encounter in elementary school. The pandemic has exacerbated this reality. I thank my Assembly colleagues for their support and look forward to continue working with the legislature and the governor on this critical legislation.”

“Research has shown that Kindergarten is an essential part of a student’s development and now, more than ever, this critical early instruction is necessary in order to narrow opportunity gaps that were exacerbated by COVID-19,” said Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and Board President Kelly Gonez. “Mandating a full year of kindergarten ensures students receive high-quality academic, social, and developmentally-appropriate learning experiences, as well as serves as an important tool in reducing chronic absenteeism. That is why Los Angeles Unified is proud to be a sponsor of SB 70.”

According to the National Education Association, kindergarteners who miss 10% or more school days have lower academic performance when they reach the first grade. Experts predict that low-income, K-12 Latino students will scholastically fall as much as 9 months— a full academic year— behind non-Hispanic White and higher-income students from classes missed in spring 2020 alone.

SB 70 is supported by a large number of school districts, labor partners, parents, and educational advocacy organizations. The bill passed the Assembly Education Committee with bipartisan support and now heads to Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Senator Susan Rubio represents Senate District 22. For more information, visit her website at https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/

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Media contact: Edward Barrera, edward.barrera@sen.ca.gov