House File 527: Creating a Preschool Program for 4-Year-Olds

Sponsor:
Iowa Department of Education

Summary:
An act creating and providing appropriations for a statewide preschool program for 4-year-olds.

Status:

2/1/2007

(House) Assigned to House Education Subcommittee, Mascher, Chambers, Gayman, Tymeson, and Wendt.

This bill has been passed by the Iowa Senate and House, and signed by Governor Chet Culver.

HSLDA's Position:
Oppose!

Action Requested:
No further action is required at this time.

Background:
Reasons For Opposing Lower Pre-School Attendance Age:

• Many education experts have concluded that beginning a child’s formal education too early may actually result in burnout and poor scholastic performance later.
• A significant impact of expanding the attendance age would be an inevitable tax increase to pay for more classroom space.
• Lowering the voluntary attendance age almost always leads to attempts to lower the compulsory attendance age, which would subject Iowa home educators to more years of fulfilling the requirements of the homeschool statute. (You do not need to share this reason with your legislators.)
• Lowering the compulsory attendance age erodes the authority of parents who are in the best position to determine when their child’s formal education should begin.

Other Resources

February-9-2007—Iowa—Call to Stop the Expansion of State Control of Your Children

February-13-2007—Iowa—Call to Stop the Expansion of State Control of Your Children