Should Kindergarten Be Made Mandatory?

Did you know that, currently in Louisiana, children are not required to attend kindergarten?

Well, Senate Education Committee Chairman Cleo Fields is wanting to change that.

“As Louisiana continues to focus on the improvement of, and access to, early childhood education, there has never been a time of more importance to address the issue of kindergarten enrollment,” stated Fields in a press release. “In fact, we can’t firmly address the issue of early childhood education if we’re not actively taking steps to ensure there is no gap between a Pre-K and kindergarten education.”

The Baton Rouge Senator has pre-filed Senate Bill 10 to make kindergarten attendance mandatory. This would require children who turn five years old on or before September 30th be enrolled in kindergarten. Citing research from Louisiana's Early Childhood Care and Education Commission, Sen. Fields mentioned how critical brain development is from birth to 5 years old, that a child's brain is 90% developed by age five.

The 2021 Regular Legislative Session begins on April 12.