HSLDA | Colorado Legislation 2005�Senate Bill 88: State Expansion of Kindergarten and School Census

March 17, 2005

Senate Bill 88: State Expansion of Kindergarten and School Census

Author:
Senator Shaffer (D-District 17)

Summary:
This bill requires all Colorado school districts to establish and maintain kindergarten programs. It also reduces the age to five for inclusion on the annual school census.

These provisions open the door to mandatory kindergarten for all students in Colorado.

Status:

01/17/2005		Introduced and placed in Senate Education Committee
02/10/2005		Passed out of Committee to full Senate
02/21/2005		Passed by full Senate
02/22/2005		Introduced in House, assigned to House Education Committee
03/14/2005		Referred to House Human Services Committee

Action Requested:
None at this time.

HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA is opposed to this bill.

Background:
SB 88 will require all Colorado school districts to establish public kindergarten programs. This will open the door for them to make kindergarten mandatory and lower the compulsory attendance age. This will expand the state's jurisdiction over your children.

This bill will also lower the age for the annual school census to five. This means the local census takers will be looking for your five-year-olds to increase funding for the public schools.