Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that eliminates the requirement that every school have all-day kindergarten.

Highlights:

• Specifies that all funds allocated to school districts shall be used to pay current expenses including classroom space to provide all-day kindergarten (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the state board to revoke the charter of any school district that fails to meet operating standards established by the state including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):
• A general high-quality education;
• Licensing of teachers; and
• Efficient and effective instructional materials and facilities.

• Requires that any school district that receives a grant from the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" for closing the achievement gap and increasing the graduation rate must comply with the provisions of the grant for the life of the grant (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the state board of education to adopt rules that each school district must follow in regards to funds calculated under the gifted education support component (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes full authority to the board of education of a city, exempted village, or local school district in regards to the scheduling of times for kindergarten classes and length of the school day for kindergarten (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes any school district that did not receive poverty-based assistance for all-day kindergarten for fiscal year 2009 to charge fees and tuition for students enrolled in all-day kindergarten (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes districts that charge fees to develop a sliding fee scale based on family income (Sec. 1).

• Requires the department of education to conduct a yearly survey of every school district that did not receive poverty-based assistance for having all-day kindergarten to determine, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 1):
• The amount of fees or tuition charged;
• How many students that are charged tuition that are eligible for free lunches;
• How many students that are charged tuition that are eligible for reduced price lunches; and
• How many students are enrolled in traditional half-day kindergarten rather than all-day kindergarten.

Full Bill Text