Bill Text: NJ S1455 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-07 - Combined with S638 (SCS) [S1455 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S1455-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 1455

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 16, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires full-day kindergarten in all school districts.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning full-day kindergarten in public schools and amending N.J.S.18A:44-2.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    N.J.S.18A:44-2 is amended to read as follows:

     18A:44-2.  a.  The board of education of [any] a district [may] shall establish a kindergarten school or kindergarten department, which in order to receive State aid shall be a one-year program in advance of or in preparation for entrance to first grade, in any school under its control, and may admit to such kindergarten school or department any child over the age of four and under the age of five and shall admit to such kindergarten school or department any child over the age of five and under the age of six years who is a resident of the district.

     b.  A kindergarten school or kindergarten department established by a board of education shall provide a full-day kindergarten program.  A school district that is not providing a full-day kindergarten program prior to the effective date of P.L.    , c.   (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall provide a full-day kindergarten program no later than the beginning of the second full school year following that effective date.

(cf: P.L.1996, c.138, s.72)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires all school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs for their students.  If a school district does not currently provide full-day kindergarten, then the district would be required to begin offering a full-day kindergarten program by the beginning of the second full school year following the bill's enactment.