Full-day kindergarten garners support, not funding, from lawmakers

CARSON CITY— Senate Finance Committee members backed a bill Monday that would require full-day kindergarten in all Nevada elementary schools, but removed a requirement to provide state funds to carry out that mandate.

Their support for Senate Bill 182 caused one lobbyist, John Wagner of the Independent American Party, to question what lawmakers were doing. He noted it would cost $90 million to implement full-day kindergarten.

But Sen. Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, finance committee chairwoman, said the policy establishing full-day kindergarten is important. A discussion is needed on providing funding, she added. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn June 3.

The state now funds full-day kindergarten in 128 schools. Gov. Brian Sandoval has proposed using $38 million in additional funds to provide it in 201 of the state’s 382 public and charter elementary schools. But the Sandoval administration said Monday that full-day kindergarten cannot be offered in more than 201 schools because some schools lack the physical space to offer the program

The Democrats also don’t have the votes needed to pass a tax increase that would be needed to provide all-day kindergarten in every school that now lacks the facilities to offer it.

During a hearing, Clark County School District lobbyist Joyce Haldeman said 12,000 at-risk students attend full-day kindergarten in the Southern Nevada district, while another 2,500 students pay tuition to attend these classes. About 10,000 students continue to take half-day kindergarten classes. Clark County could provide full-day kindergarten to all without the need for adding classrooms, she said.

Without funding, the biggest change now that could come from the bill is a revision of the requirement that students do not have to attend school until they are 7 years old. The bill would reduce that requirement to 6 years, but parents could secure waivers if they want to delay enrolling their children in school. Haldeman said the vast majority of children start school at age 5.

At some point, it’s necessary for full-day kindergarten to be “in every school,” said Craig Stevens, a Nevada State Education Association lobbyist.

But Wagner claimed there is no lasting benefit from having children attend full-day kindergarten.

Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, said kindergarten is much different from the days when nap time was part of the schedule.

“We require so much more from our kids,” he said.

Thirteen states now have mandatory full-day kindergarten.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.