Who knew? Kindergarten is optional in Michigan

For parents having trouble deciding whether their 5-year-old is ready for kindergarten, a bill under review in the state House Education Committee would make the decision easier for them.

House Bill 4987, introduced in mid-October by retired school teacher Rep. Charles Brunner, D-Bay City, calls for full-day, mandatory kindergarten enrollment for 5-year-olds.

Michigan law now makes school compulsory at age 6. A child who turns age 5 between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1 has the option to attend kindergarten, but enrollment is not mandatory in Michigan. Parents whose children turn 5 after Sept. 1 can seek a waiver to enroll their child in kindergarten.

Kindergarten is optional in 34 states and mandatory in 16 and the District of Columbia.

Proponents say making kindergarten mandatory lines up with a statewide push for more early childhood education. Others suggest kindergarten may get in the way of important early learning.

Cleveland Elementary School principal David Roberts said he was reluctant to suggest that mandatory kindergarten is the right choice for all children, especially for boys who tend to mature later than girls.

“Kindergarten is quite rigorous now. It’s more like first grade used to be years ago. We hope to have kids reading by the end of kindergarten. It’s not as much educational play as it used to be,” Roberts said.

For some, he said, the Great Starts Readiness Program may be a better choice. “It’s very play-based. I believe it is a real school. Our GSRP program is a real school and the kids are learning great things coming out of there. They’re really prepared for kindergarten,” Roberts said.

Opponents of the bill say the proposed mandatory age of attendance is too young, and that it would take too much away from parents’ individual discretion.

They also cite the cost involved, according to House Education Committee chairwoman Rep. Amanda Price, R-Park Township.

Most children at that age, an estimated 70 percent to 79 percent, already are enrolled in kindergarten, Price said.

She said there has to be more discussion to find out what committee members are thinking, and said factors such as the transition from half-day to full-day programming also has to be taken into account.

“That’s a big transition for a lot of kids. Another consideration is that it’s not just about learning opportunities. The child has to be emotionally prepared,” Price said.

Brunner said he expects the most pushback on the part of the bill mandating full-day kindergarten, and said he might be amenable to changing that provision.

“The real importance of this is for students to be there on a regular basis (but) quite honestly, I think the earlier the better for kids,” he said. “Kids are a lot smarter than they used to be. They’re ready to learn sooner. It goes back to the developmental years. I think they’re ready. I would listen to arguments that might indicate that’s too early. It’s something I might be amenable to changing,” Brunner said.

Roberts also questioned some claims that mandatory kindergarten could ensure third-grade reading proficiency, another state priority.

“Is making kindergarten mandatory an answer for ensuring kids by third grade are reading? I think our (current) system is set up to make sure kids are reading by third grade … We provide top notch instruction for kids and then we provide the interventions that are needed,” he said.

Roberts said many parents are not aware that kindergarten is optional, and that the priority for most is to get their children into kindergarten as early as possible, particularly those whose fifth birthdays fall a couple of months after Sept. 1. This year he met with five or six parents who were looking to do that. They ultimately decided to wait until next school year.

“I think maybe the perception is that kindergarten is mandatory. I know that as a professional educator, but I don’t offer that to a parent who comes in with a 5-year-old.”

Kristen Williams, 32, of Port Huron was among those who said she didn’t realize kindergarten is not mandatory for children.

Williams was with her niece, Amelia Haller, who turned 5 on Oct. 19. This is her first year attending full-day preschool at Indian Woods Elementary.

“I thought it was always mandatory. I thought Young Fours was ‘iffy,’ it depended on the parent but as far as kindergarten goes, I didn’t even know there was an option.”

Williams said she would support the idea of mandatory kindergarten.

“I think kindergarten is a very good thing for the children. It really does help them as they progress and get older, being around the teachers and other kids, making friends, developmental skills. That’s a lot,” she said.

Mary Neilis, 26, was with her three young children at weekly play group at the public library in Port Huron. Two of them, 4-year-old twins, will be attending kindergarten next year. They’ll be age 5 by September.

“I wasn’t aware of that. The plan is to put them in kindergarten. They’ll be ready at that age,” Neilis said.

Syeda Ferguson is a reporter for The Times Herald. Contact her at 810-989-6276 or e-mail her at syeda@thetimesherald.com. Follow her on Twitter@shossainfe.