Public Act 198 of 2012

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• Introduced by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on March 28, 2011, 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 House Appropriations Committee on March 28, 2011.
    • Reported in the House on February 29, 2012, with the recommendation that the bill be referred to the Committee on Education.
  • Referred to the House Education Committee on February 29, 2012.
    • Reported in the House on April 18, 2012, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on May 30, 2012, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises various details. This version was superseded by another substitute with these and more changes - see Franz substitute. The substitute failed by voice vote in the House on May 30, 2012.
  • Substitute offered by Rep. Ray Franz (R) on May 30, 2012, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that phases in the proposed change over three years, and makes it optional for parents. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on May 30, 2012.
• Passed 64 to 45 in the House on May 31, 2012, 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 and "opt-in" was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on June 5, 2012.
  • Referred to the Senate Education Committee on June 5, 2012.
    • Reported in the Senate on June 7, 2012, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
• Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate on June 13, 2012, 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 and "opt-in" was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on June 26, 2012.