Children race to kindergarten in a demonstration of the importance of the "head start" pre-kindergarten programs can provide. Credit: Lillian Mongeau, EdSource

Children race to kindergarten on the grounds of the California Land Capitol in a demonstration of the importance of the "head showtime" pre-kindergarten programs can provide. Credit: Lillian Mongeau, EdSource

Later several hours of testimony the state Senate Education Committee on Wed voted in favor of a pecker that would aggrandize transitional kindergarten to all iv-year-olds.

The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Commission, where its lead author, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, volition have to fight for the nearly $1.5 billion it will take to fully fund the new year of public education. Supporters of Senate Bill 837 outnumbered opponents past about iii-to-1, lining up along the far wall of the commission room and wrapping effectually the back.

"We cannot stop denying the science," supporting the importance of early instruction, Steinberg said.

Parents, public school teachers, superintendents, business leaders and early on education activists were among the many supporters who argued that offering a universal kindergarten plan to California's 4-year-olds would result in academic gains for students, economic benefits to guild and a reduction in juvenile offense.

"I would suggest (the bill) volition accept an outpouring of support," if it moves to the Senate at big, testified David Rattray, vice president of didactics at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

However, there won't be support from many principals and superintendents, according to testimony by Adonai Mack, legislative advocate for the Clan of California School Administrators. Mack said 9 out of 10 administrators in his association opposed making transitional kindergarten for all 4-yr-olds a standard public school offer.

"Nosotros're very fearful virtually the affect of this bill on public education," Mack testified before the committee.

He said administrators are concerned about creating a new grade level at the same time they are introducing the new Common Core Land Standards and switching to a new school funding formula. A lack of appropriate facilities is also a concern, Mack said.

Several private sector kid care heart directors also testified confronting the bill, stating that a migration of four-yr-olds from private preschools into a free public school plan could decimate private programs. Cyndee Riding, who runs vii preschools in the Los Angeles expanse, said districts should be able to contract with private providers to offer transitional kindergarten. Riding pointed to the Los Angeles Universal Preschool program as an instance of a publicly funded program that already uses a "mixed delivery" system of public and individual providers.

"Why uproot a system that's working?" Riding asked.

Steinberg agreed that a mixed delivery system would be ideal, and said he was interested in working with private preschool operators to make that possible. " We are open up to changes," Steinberg said. "This must be a collaborative process. "

"We know the first draft of the bill is non always, or e'er, the final product," Steinberg said.

Lillian Mongeau covers early babyhood education. Contact her or follow her @lrmongeau .

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