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State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, filed the
proposed legislation, which has the backing of the Democratic
majority in the House and Senate. House Bill 2396 would benefit
parents and children alike, according to Canty.
"Full-day kindergarten programs also reduce burdens on working
parents by providing a longer school day that more closely
matches working hours and aligns within the other hours that
children enrolled in other grades are in school," Canty said.
Sen. Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, asked
during the committee hearing about the potential costs on
lower-income school districts.
"For them, it's just an issue of having space," McConchie said.
"They are going to have to build eight classrooms to be able to
do this. That is not something they will be able to do in short
order. Plus, it will be a million dollars a year to fund this,
and they want to make sure they are doing it in a responsible
manner."
The measure, if passed into law, would require the districts to
implement the changes by the 2027-2028 school year. Schools that
lack the funding for the changes can apply for a two-year
extension with the state.
Gov. J.B. Prtizker's budget proposal for 2024 includes an extra
$250 million for early childhood education in Illinois.
Canty said measures like hers are necessary for improving early
education in Illinois.
"In order to put all the investments that we have in early
childhood and not ensure that full-day kindergarten is the next
step, then I think we are not providing all the support that we
can from the state level," Canty said.
The measure passed through the Senate Education Committee on
Tuesday and now awaits further action.
Andrew Hensel reports on issues in Chicago and
Statewide. He has been with The Center Square News since April
of 2021 and was previously with The Joliet Slammers.
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