While kindergarten is considered necessary to prepare children for the first grade, only 15 states require students to attend kindergarten, according to a report released by the Education Commission of the States.
In addition, the amount of time students must attend kindergarten each day varies by state, with some states requiring full days, some half days, and some just a few hours per day.
This lack of consistency reflects “a disconnect between state policy and the importance of kindergarten,” Education Week reported.
One of the reasons that so few states require kindergarten is a lack of space to house children during the school day. Overcrowding in the elementary schools and upper grades has forced some schools to place less emphasis on kindergarten as a way to manage enrollment.
Another issue is a lack of money. Many states simply do not have adequate funding to pay for kindergarten. The result is that in some states parents who want their children to attend a full day of kindergarten must pay $3,500 a year, according to Education Week.
