California Once Again Rejects Bid to Make Kindergarten Mandatory

The California Legislature rejected a bill during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing last week that would have made kindergarten mandatory in the state, thwarting lawmakers’ second attempt in two years to mandate classroom attendance for young children. Assembly Bill 2226 would have gone into effect for the 2027–28 school year and would have required full-time kindergarten attendance as a prerequisite for first grade in California public schools. The bill, authored by Democrat Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, was referred to what’s known as the suspense file earlier this month as its fiscal impact was considered. After being heard again on Aug. 15, the bill was permanently shelved by the appropriations committee....