House lawmakers are working on a bill that requires full-day kindergarten. Currently, districts can offer full-day or half-day kindergarten, but this legislation mandates the full school day option. It’s sponsored by Representative Mary Beth Canty of Arlington Heights who says this will help boost academic performance and strengthen social-emotional skills.
“Research from the National Education Association suggests that full-day kindergarten can produce long-term educational gains, especially for low-income, minority, and multi-lingual students.”
Canty says the bill is a work in progress. She plans to address concerns about costs by phasing in the change over four years.
***Courtesy of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services***
