Michigan bill would undermine parents by mandating kindergarten for all 5-year-olds 

A Michigan lawmaker has proposed mandatory kindergarten for all 5-year-old children, raising concerns about government interference in parental rights.

A group of Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, want to mandate all 5-year-olds attend kindergarten with SB 285.

“It doesn’t make sense that kids skip kindergarten,” Polehanki told the Senate education committee. “Kindergarten must be mandatory in our state if we’re serious about improving academics.”

It goes against a recent trend, in the wake of the pandemic, where more families are skipping kindergarten – or at least not enrolling students in a formal program. The National Center for Education Statistics estimated a 13% decrease in kindergarten and pre-K enrollment in 2021. 

The Michigan Department of Education also testified in favor of SB 285. 

A power point presentation, given by Dr. Sheryl Kennedy, the legislative liaison for the department, explained the goal of mandatory kindergarten would be better early learning outcomes, as well as higher graduation rates and post-secondary achievement. 

Under current law, public schools aren’t required to offer kindergarten, nor are families required to enroll. 

If SB 285 passed, districts would be forced to add the extra grade, and families would have to register their 5-year-old child into a kindergarten program – whether public, private or homeschool.  

Although the bill doesn’t explicitly outline regulations for homeschool families, policy expert Molly Macek says the rhetoric of mandatory kindergarten is troublesome.  

“I don’t see language in the actual bill that requires parents to demonstrate where their kids are enrolled in school,” said Macek, who is director of education policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. “However, the bill does open the door to these types of policies. And the fact that Dr. Kennedy chose to use this language is concerning.”  

A legislative analysis also estimated mandating kindergarten would increase state education expenses by over $43 million a year. 

“This is a win for schools that increase their student count at the expense of parents sacrificing their ability to choose what is best for their kids,” Macek added.  

Many Michigan parents are already on high alert as lawmakers are trying to force homeschool families to register with the state.