Committee holds bill to lower kindergarten entry from 5 to 4 amid funding, readiness and capacity concerns

Summary

Bill 36-0069 — which would change compulsory kindergarten entry from age 5 to age 4 — was held after testimony from the Board of Education, Department of Education, Department of Human Services and Department of Health warned the change could jeopardize Head Start federal funding, strain teacher capacity, and conflict with existing pre‑K statutes.

The Committee on Education and Workforce Development on Wednesday held Bill 36-0069, which would amend Title 17 to change the compulsory kindergarten entry age from 5 to 4 years old. The hearing brought detailed testimony from education officials, the Department of Human Services (which administers Head Start), and the Department of Health.

Sponsor Senator Alma Francis Heiliger framed the bill as an effort to prepare children earlier for school and to close achievement gaps by placing more students in formal early‑learning environments. “I want our VI children to be at the top,” the sponsor said, asking the committee to consider earlier and broader access to structured early education.

The Virgin Islands Board of Education strongly opposed the bill as drafted. Abigail Hendricks Kagan urged strengthening existing pre‑K programs rather than mandating kindergarten at age 4, noting statutory frameworks that already assign early‑childhood regulation to the commissioner. “We advocate for strengthening pre‑kindergarten and Head…

Committee holds bill to lower kindergarten entry from 5 to 4 amid funding, readiness and capacity concerns

Summary

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