Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill Wednesday requiring public school districts in Illinois to establish full-day kindergarten by the 2027-28 school year, the first of many education bills expected to be greenlighted in the coming weeks.
State Rep. Mary Beth Canty speaks to a colleague before Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivered his annual budget address on Feb. 15, 2023, at the Illinois Capitol. She introduced the full-day bill in the House.
Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford agreed. “Full-day kindergarten provides families with comprehensive, stable learning environments so children can be prepared for the demands of early elementary school,” she said in a statement. Districts that don’t already have a full-day program and need to create one can apply for a waiver to extend the implementation date up to two years past the 2027-28 school year, depending on funding criteria laid out in the bill.
Canty explained that the task force would first study the current state of full-day kindergarten in Illinois, including the capacity of each school district to provide full-day schooling.It’s important to note that full-day kindergarten may not look the same in every district, Canty said, and some districts might pair the program with an early childhood center while others will carve out classrooms in their elementary spaces.
Because children in Illinois are not required to attend school until age 6, parents can opt out of kindergarten altogether. But there is an overwhelming demand for full-day kindergarten in the districts that do offer it, Canty said.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Photos: First day of school at Elvira Elementary School, Sunnyside Unified School DistrictStudents said goodbye to their parents/caregivers as they returned to Elvira Elementary School on Wednesday morning The Sunnyside Unified School District welcomed back approximately 14,500 students to 21 schools. Kelley Brooks-Caveletto is starting her ...
Read more »
Illinois Gov. Pritzker says Ron DeSantis 'isn't smart enough to be president'Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) bashed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), saying he 'isn't smart enough to be president.'
Read more »
Illinois Gov. Pritzker says DeSantis ‘isn’t smart enough to be president’Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, responded to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican running in the 2024 presidential election, amid criticism over a new law.
Read more »
Pritzker signs new law establishing full-day kindergarten in IllinoisIllinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a new law paving the way for full-day kindergarten throughout the state in coming years.
Read more »
Oklahoma's state-funded Catholic charter school hit with lawsuit from parents, religious leadersParents, religious leaders and more filed a lawsuit opposing Oklahoma's taxpayer-funded religious charter school on Monday, arguing for separation of church and state.
Read more »
Oxford school shooter was 'feral child' abandoned by parents, defense psychologist saysEthan Crumbley, 17, pleaded guilty to murder, terrorism and other charges in a mass shooting that killed four students and wounded seven others in 2021.
Read more »