Bill > S04037

This bill modifies New York State education law to lower the compulsory school age from six to five years old, with some important nuances. The legislation changes the definition of a "child of compulsory school age" and adjusts when children are required to attend full-time instruction. Specifically, children who turn five years old on or before December 1st (or a later date established by local school district trustees) will be required to attend full-time instruction from the first day of school in September. Children who turn five after December 1st will be required to start full-time instruction in the following September. The bill also provides a new provision allowing parents to elect not to enroll their five-year-old child in school during a given school year, in which case the child would not be required to attend full-time instruction until the following September. This change gives parents more flexibility in deciding when to start their child's formal education while still maintaining the overall framework of compulsory education between the ages of five and sixteen. The bill will take effect on the first of July following its passage into law.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4037