A report finds wide variation across the country in states’ kindergarten policies.
In 11 states and the District of Columbia, full-day kindergarten is a requirement, according to the report by the Denver-based Education Commission of the States.
But in five states, the decision to offer kindergarten is left up to individual districts. A “full day” of kindergarten ranges from four to seven hours, depending on where a child lives. And, in 35 states, kindergarten attendance is not mandated even if kindergarten is available.
The report says that while policymakers are currently focused on preschool because of the Obama administration’s interest in the issue, “equal emphasis must be placed on ensuring that students have access to high-quality, full-day kindergarten programs in order for this early investment to produce long-term positive results.”
