Call Governor Jerry Brown voice your opposition

Bill:  AB 1444 - Mandatory Kindergarten

Status:  Passed Both the State Assembly and the State Senate Aug. 20th

Now On Governor's Desk For Signature to Become Law or For his Veto

Quickly pass this alert on to others who might respond and then take the suggested action below.

CALL Governor Brown IMMEDIATELY at (916) 445-2841.  It is best to call between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

*   Rushing children into formal education by effectively lowering the age at which children begin formal education by mandating kindergarten will exact a heavy toll on the development of many children and will weaken the role of parents in their lives.  This is diametrically opposed to the message parents are routinely given, that parents need to be more involved in their children's lives.  However, parents cannot be more involved when the state either encourages or requires children to be with their parents for less time.  Research supports later rather than earlier entry of children into institutionalized settings for educational development to be the most beneficial.

*   AB 1444 encroaches on the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children.  It ignores the long-standing presumption that parents act in the best interest of their children, by requiring parents to enroll their children in kindergarten rather than allowing them the choice specified in current law.  It disregards the parent's understanding of what would be the best course of action for his own child's education and development.  It is a detrimental one-size-fits-all program that would be forced upon all children by the government.