Colorado Legislative Council Staff

STATE and LOCAL

FISCAL NOTE

General Fund Expenditure Impact

School District Revenue and Expenditure Impact

TITLE:            CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IN KINDERGARTEN, AND PROVIDING FOR TRANSITION TO A COMPULSORY FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN BY JULY 1, 2001

Summary of Legislation

            Under current law, every child who has attained the age of seven and is under the age of 16 years is required to attend public school for at least 1,056 hours if a secondary school pupil, or 968 hours if an elementary school pupil during the school year. Effective for school years beginning on or after July 1, 1999, but prior to July 1, 2001, this bill would lower the minimum age from seven to six, and would require 435 hours for each kindergarten pupil. The compulsory attendance laws would be extended to five-year-old children in kindergarten, with specific exceptions for home instruction by a teacher or non-public home-based educational programs. Effective for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2001, the number of hours required for kindergarten pupils would be increased to from 435 hours to 968 hours.

            Moneys in the Capital Reserve Fund of a school district would be made available to meet the capital construction needs of the district in implementing full-day kindergarten. If the capital construction needs cannot be met by September 1, 2001, the school district may apply to the State Board of Education for a deadline extension of up to three years for implementation.

            The bill requires the Department of Education to conduct a study of compulsory kindergarten and full-day kindergarten. The report on the findings of the study would be submitted to the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as to the Joint Budget Committee no later than December 31, 1998.

            The bill is assessed as having state and school district fiscal impact. The bill would become effective upon signature of the Governor.

State Expenditures

           Full-Day Kindergarten. In October 1997, approximately 51,400 pupils were enrolled in public school kindergarten. Assuming that all school districts in the state offer full-day kindergarten programs beginning with the 2000-01 academic year, projected kindergarten enrollment will be approximately 54,500 at that time. Based on current per pupil funding levels, the bill would increase the appropriation for Public School Finance, Total Program beginning in FY 2001-02 by $128,075,000 annually (54,500 students x 0.5 FTE additional funded pupil count x $4,700 per pupil funding = $128,075,000).

          Full-Day Kindergarten Study. The bill requires the Department of Education to conduct a study of compulsory kindergarten and full-day kindergarten for completion no later than December 31, 1998. It is assumed that the study would be to report the extent of the phase-in of compulsory and full-day kindergarten by school districts. The study can be accomplished with existing personnel of the Department of Education, and would not require additional resources to complete. If, however, the purpose of the study is to report on child progress that compares children who have attended full-day kindergarten, the study would require additional department resources.

School District Impact

          The bill would increase expenditures at the school district level to comply with the requirements of compulsory full-day school attendance in kindergarten. It is assumed that the additional state funding identified in the State Expenditures section above via the School Finance Act will cover the operating costs of providing full-day kindergarten. Most school districts will experience additional capital construction needs. The cost of providing capital construction needs has not been estimated, and will vary from district to district.

Spending Authority

            The fiscal note would imply that no appropriations or spending authority are required in FY 1998-99 to implement the provisions of the bill.

Departments Contacted

          Education