Relates to the compulsory age for full time instruction from six to five years of age and certain exceptions for minor children
This bill lowers the compulsory school age from six to five years old for full-time instruction in New York State. It requires children who turn five on or before December 1st to start school in September of that year, while those turning five after December 1st can begin the following September. Parents may choose to delay kindergarten enrollment until the next September, and the bill maintains exceptions for high school completers and full-time workers. The change affects all school districts and parents of five-year-old children.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Assembly Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 31, 2025
Last action Jun 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
S4037B
→
S4037C
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends New York's education law to require kindergarten attendance in specific school districts, while also clarifying rules for parents who delay enrollment. The changes update the bill's title to reflect this new requirement and add specific language ensuring that children whose parents choose to delay kindergarten enrollment must be enrolled in the following school year.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a mandatory requirement for kindergarten attendance in certain districts, whereas the previous version did not explicitly mandate this.
REQUIREMENT
Added a requirement for kindergarten attendance in certain school districts, making it mandatory for eligible children.
ELIGIBILITY
Modified the exemption clause for parents who delay enrollment to ensure that children whose parents elect not to enroll them in the current year must be enrolled in the next school year.
TECHNICAL
Updated the bill's title and committee report status to reflect the new kindergarten requirement and additional amendments.
Floor votes · Senate Jun 4, 2026
How they voted
44–16
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 63
Jun 4, 2026
D
Democratic41
92% Yea
R
Republican22
72% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
16
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
4
Jun 4, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO CODES
lower
Jun 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 4037C
upper
May 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 4037B
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
upper
Jun 13, 2025
Committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 4037A
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
James Skoufis
DDemocratic
Co
Pat Fahy
DDemocratic
Co
Pete Harckham
DDemocratic/Working Families
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