ALBANY – City five-year-olds will automatically be signed up for kindergarten in the public schools starting in 2013-14 unless their parents tell school officials otherwise.
Gov. Cuomo signed a bill yesterday allowing the city to require children that age to attend school unless their parents object.
The new law won’t apply to private school or home-schooled kids.
City Council Speaker and mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn, Council Education Committee Chairman Robert Jackson and Councilman Stephen Levin applauded the new law.
“By giving New York City the authority to lower the compulsory age of schooling to age five, we are taking a significant step towards closing the achievement gap,” the three said in a joint statement.
“Experts agree that the most vulnerable New Yorkers will be helped by ensuring that every New York City child starts school at age five.”
ekriss@nypost.com