BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Gov. Kay Ivey wants children in Alabama to have a strong start to their education.
On Tuesday, the governor called on lawmakers to adopt new laws that would require children to complete kindergarten, instead of skipping to the first grade. Ivey wants first grade teachers to focus on expanding a child’s education and on preparing students for the second grade, not catching them up to a first-grade level.It’s a move Richard Franklin with the American Federation of Teachers agrees with, saying for years that kindergarten is a crucial part of a child’s education.
Franklin believes the governor’s plan to require kindergarten for all Alabama students is a step in the right direction. Under current education laws, completion of kindergarten is not required to enter the first grade in Alabama.