California Bill Would Make Kindergarten Mandatory for Children

A California bill would make kindergarten mandatory for children if it is approved by state lawmakers and signed by the governor later this year. Existing law requires full-time school attendance for children between the ages of 6 and 18. If passed, Assembly Bill 2226 would go into effect for the 2027–28 school year. “We know the achievement gap is present before children attend first grade,” the bill’s author Democrat Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi told The Epoch Times in a statement July 12. He said California is making strides toward increasing early educational skills for young children through programs like transitional kindergarten and the California State Preschool Program, which assists preschool-aged children with transitioning into kindergarten....