Bill offers free preschool to kids affected by minimum-age change

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Late-born children would have to wait another year before entering kindergarten and would be offered free preschool instead, under a bill passed by the Senate Education Committee yesterday.

Senate Bill 17 would require children to be 5 years old before Oct. 16 for the 2005-06 school year and before Aug. 1 beginning in the 2006-07 school year. Current law requires children to reach their fifth birthday by Dec. 31 of the school year.

The approved version of the bill would also offer preschool for children affected by the changes to the minimum age.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), said he didn't expect any additional cost for providing preschool to those children. He said the money that would have been spent to educate the children in kindergarten would go toward their preschool opportunities.

The bill now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for review.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.