SENATORS TESTIFY ON KINDERGARTEN AID BILL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                          Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Contact: Senator Iris Estabrook

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SENATORS TESTIFY ON KINDERGARTEN AID BILL

CONCORD – Senators testified today before the House Education Committee in support of legislation that will help certain towns pay for the start-up costs of adding public kindergarten.

“It’s been more than 100 years since the first kindergarten programs were made available to students in New Hampshire. It’s time for all New Hampshire students to benefit. Your support for Senate Bill 530 would mark a milestone in that effort,” Senator Iris Estabrook (D-Durham) told committee members. “The benefits of early childhood education are well documented.”

Only 11 districts do not offer public kindergarten. Senate Bill 530 was based on the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Costing an Adequate Education and provides financial assistance to ensure public kindergarten is available to all students in the state starting in the fall of 2008 or 2009. The bill calls for full state funding of temporary classrooms, furniture and fixtures along with an aid amount for each kindergarten pupil. Funds to pay for the temporary classrooms would be drawn from an existing fund for Kindergarten Construction Aid.

In addition the legislation provides state aid for construction of permanent classrooms, with districts able to select between one of two options: 100 percent of the cost of a basic code-compliant structure or 75 percent for a design developed by the community.

“It is with a great sense of accomplishment and pride in our Senate education colleagues’ work that I am here in support of Senate Bill 530,” Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord) said. “Since coming to the Senate in 1995, I have been working to bring public kindergarten to all of New Hampshire’s 5-year-olds.  In seven terms I have sponsored at least six bills or amendments on the topic.”

The new definition of an adequate education adopted this year calls for all school districts to offer half-day kindergarten. A report by the state Department of Education that found some districts had available classroom space, but that many would require temporary classrooms in the short term and school additions in the longer term.