Should Kindergarten Be Mandatory?

As a mother, I would have to say kindergarten is absolutely necessary. As a matter of fact, I think pre-k and kindergarten should not only be mandatory, but also an absolute right for all children to have access to. Knowledge is power, and the quicker our young minds are educated, the better. According to reports, state Senate education lawmakers are looking to renew a previously failed legislation, in hopes of making kindergarten mandatory.

Baton Rouge Senate Education Chairman (Democrat), Cleo Fields is leading a proposal that there be a statewide requirement mandating all children who turn five years old by September 30 attend kindergarten class. This initiative goes up for debate next month, so we'll see what happens. In the meantime, KLFY reports supporters of the requirement think this could only help with the state's low education performance. At the same time, this effort would go hand-in-hand with the state's expansion of early childhood education.

Critics of the proposal feel this is a decision for parents. However, Fields argues this is all about maximizing a child's learning environment. If the legislation goes through, kindergarten will be mandatory starting with the 2022-23 school year.

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