KINDERGARTEN: AGE OF ENROLLMENT - S.B. 447: FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 447 (as reported with amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Joanne G. Emmons
Committee: Education
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to require a child to be at least five years old on September 1, rather than December 1, in order to enroll in kindergarten. The bill would take effect July 1, 2001.
Specifically, in a school district that provided kindergarten, a child who resided in the school district could enroll in the kindergarten if he or she were at least five years of age on September 1 of the school year of enrollment. Currently, the child must be at least five on December 1 of the school year of enrollment.
MCL 380.1147 - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
The State would realize savings of approximately one-fourth of the cost of foundation allowance payments for kindergartners. Of the estimated 123,000 kindergartners, approximately one-fourth (or 31,000) pupils would have to wait an extra year before enrolling in kindergarten. Based on FY 1999-2000 estimates, the result would be savings to the State of an estimated $196,400,000. These savings would continue for 13 years until the first kindergarten grade reached graduation.
Local districts would have a loss in revenue equal to the above-mentioned figures. The grade affected by this legislation would be permanently reduced by one-fourth throughout the K-12 educational cycle of those pupils. Similarly, the school district would receive one-fourth less in revenues for those 13 years.
Date Completed: 9-24-99 - Fiscal Analyst: J. CarrascoFloor\sb447 - Bill Analysis @ http://www.state.mi.us/sfa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.