LANSING -- Backers of a later starting age for kindergarten in Michigan say it would bring the state in line with most of the country and reflects the more academic focus of early education in our time.
The Michigan Senate unanimously passed legislation May 3 that would move up the date by which a child needs to turn five in order to enter kindergarten to Sept. 1 from Dec. 1.
The measures now go to the state House, where a spokesman for Republican Speaker Jase Bolger tells the Detroit Free Press that questions remain to be answered before the chamber moves on the proposal.
Evart Republican Sen. Darwin Booher says research shows delaying kindergarten by as few as three months leads to significantly improved test scores.
