On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate Education Policy Committee advanced legislation requiring every Alabama six-year-old to either have completed kindergarten or pass a competency test to enter first grade. Children who fail the test will be forced to attend kindergarten rather than first grade with their peers.
House Bill 43 (HB43) is sponsored by State Representative Pebblin Warren (D-Tuskegee), who has carried this legislation for the last few years.
“This issue has become a really important issue in the State of Alabama,” Warren said. “It is a tragedy that we would let a child reach third grade without being able to read competently.”
This is the fourth year that Warren carried similar legislation. It has not passed the Senate in the past. Governor Kay Ivey endorsed the bill in her State of the State speech.
“A child can attend kindergarten or maybe in homeschooling, private schooling, or religious schooling,” Warren explained. “As long as they demonstrate competence, they can enter into first grade.”
Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) asked how much this would cost in the fiscal note.
“$8.4 million,” Warren answered.
“We are just preparing them to fail,” Smitherman said. “Requiring those little children to pass this without doing any of that is setting up these kids to fail. We know that the resources are not there .”
Sen. Jay Hovey (R-Auburn) said, “I would prefer this as an opportunity to identify needs and opportunities to avoid problems later on. I would rather catch it now in kindergarten and first grade than third and fourth grade.
Hovey said, “It is easier and less disruptive to fail them then than it would be in third, fourth, or fifth grade.”
Smitherman said, “We haven’t provided nothing for them. You think it is alright to flunk them if they are six years old?”
“I hope there is a way we can facilitate that tutoring,” Hovey said. “I hope that we can find a way to raise them up.”
“How are they going to get where you want them to get without giving them any money or structure?” Smitherman said. “I am hurt that we are even considering this.”
Warren said, “This is already being enacted by the state school board.”
Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-Dothan) said, “We have some questions that need to be answered. Rep. Warren.”
Chesteen is the Chairman of the Senate Education Policy Committee.
Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) said, “My professional worth is as an educator. I am the Director of Montgomery Head Start. I would almost rather disagree with God than disagree with my mentor Senator Smitherman.”
Hatcher said that if a child is six years old and doesn’t know their numbers, colors, or ABCs and can’t write their name, “they are woefully behind.”
Hatcher said that if a child cannot read by the third grade, “They drop off rapidly. The numbers are startling.”
“Money needs to be put in the kindergarten program,” Hatcher said, “We have got to do something.”
Hatcher said that he favored funding an “at-risk program.”
“I am on the side of mandating kindergarten,” Hatcher said.
The Committee then entertained a motion to give HB43 a favorable report.
Smitherman said, “No, with every fiber of our being.”
The motion carried, and the Committee voted to advance the legislation to the full Senate.
Warren said, “Thank you, and on behalf of the children of Alabama, I say thank you.”
Chesteen said, “Rep. Warren, get with Sen. Smitherman before it gets to the floor (of the Senate).”
The full Senate could consider HB43 as soon as Thursday.
The House previously voted to pass HB43 in a vote of 87 to 12.
Thursday will be day 26 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits the legislature to no more than 30 legislative days in the regular session.
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