2011 Senate Bill 316 / 2012 Public Act 199

Require kindergartners be 5 on Sept. 1

Introduced in the Senate

April 12, 2011

Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R-35)

To require children to be age 5 on Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. The bill would also establish procedures for allowing a child who is less than age 5 on the new date to still start kindergarten, including a skills level assessment test. Note: School districts get extra money from the state for every kindergartner they enroll.

Referred to the Committee on Education

March 15, 2012

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 1, 2012

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

May 3, 2012

Amendment offered by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-8)

To earmark any budget savings realized in the transition to earlier kindergarten cutoff ages to government "early childhood education" programs.

The amendment failed 14 to 24 (details)

Passed in the Senate 36 to 2 (details)

To require children to be age 5 by Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. This earlier age cut-off would be phased in one month at a time over three years, starting in 2013. A child who would have been eligible under the current requirements could still attend if the parents "opt in" by notifying the school by June 1. The phase-in was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period.

Received in the House

May 3, 2012

Referred to the Committee on Education

June 7, 2012

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 12, 2012

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

June 13, 2012

Passed in the House 66 to 44 (details)

To require children to be age 5 by Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. This earlier age cut-off would be phased in one month at a time over three years, starting in 2013. A child who would have been eligible under the current requirements could still attend if the parents "opt in" by notifying the school by June 1. The phase-in was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period.

Received in the Senate

June 13, 2012

Passed in the Senate 25 to 11 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

June 25, 2012