THE FOLLOWING IS AN ILLINOIS HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS RELEASE
To emphasize the importance of kindergarten on the life of young children beginning their educational journey, legislation is being sponsored in the Illinois House which provides that any pupil enrolled in public schools in the state who has not yet attended kindergarten at a public, private, or parochial school, shall be required to satisfactorily complete kindergarten before advancing to first grade.
State Representative Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville) took part in a Capitol press conference Wednesday morning and said the legislation is aimed at ensuring that all children receive foundational academic skills and classroom behavior. His comments are attached.
Currently in Illinois, children must begin school at age 6 but are allowed to begin kindergarten at age 5. Parents are allowed to hold their child back a year for various reasons in a process known as redshirting. These cases are decided by school districts under current statute.
