H 4932 Concurrent Resolution, By M.F. Jaskwhich, Allison, Anderson, A.W. Byrd, 
T.L. Farr, Keegan, Kelley, Littlejohn, McMahand, Phillips, Stille, Stuart and 
D.A. Wright
 A Concurrent Resolution to establish a committee to study the feasibility of
 mandatory full-day public kindergartens in South Carolina, to provide that the
 membership of the committee shall be appointed by the State Department of
 Education and shall include representatives of certain public and private
 agencies and entities, and to provide that the committee shall report its
 findings to the respective Education Committees of the General Assembly by
 March 1, 1995.

   03/17/94  House  Introduced HJ-6
   03/17/94  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-7
   04/14/94  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works HJ-5
   05/10/94  House  Debate adjourned HJ-137
   05/18/94  House  Amended and adopted HJ-52
   05/18/94  House  Sent to the Senate HJ-52
   05/24/94  Senate Introduced SJ-18
   05/24/94  Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-18
   05/27/94  Senate Recalled from Committee on Education SJ-5

May 27, 1994

H. 4932

Introduced by REPS. Jaskwhich, Phillips, Allison, Farr, Wright, Keegan, Kelley, Stille, Littlejohn, Byrd, Anderson, McMahand and Stuart

S. Printed 5/27/94--S.

Read the first time May 24, 1994.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF MANDATORY FULL-DAY PUBLIC KINDERGARTENS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, TO PROVIDE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF CERTAIN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND ENTITIES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO THE RESPECTIVE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY MARCH 1, 1995.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That a committee to study the feasibility of mandatory full-day public kindergartens is established as follows:

(A) The members of the committee shall be appointed by the Department of Education, and the department, in consultation with the House Education and Public Works Committee and the Senate Education Committee, shall include representatives from appropriate community and professional organizations or entities. The 1994 State Teacher of the Year shall also be a member of the committee and shall serve as its chair. The Department of Education shall provide staff support to the committee and it shall be convened no later than August 1, 1994.

(B) The committee shall study the feasibility of mandatory full-day public kindergartens in South Carolina. The committee shall examine relevant research and review the varying effects of current programs in terms of teaching methods, staff training, developmental appropriateness of curricula, and generally in terms of how well public prekindergarten and kindergarten programs are working. The committee shall make recommendations about the following issues:

1. the short-term and long-range effects of full-day kindergarten programs in terms of readiness for first grade;

2. the effects of reducing the teacher-pupil ratios in kindergarten and the level of significance of various ratios;

3. the effects of expanding three and four-year-old programs in terms of readiness for first grade;

4. the extent of integration of 0-5 parenting programs with preschool and kindergarten programs both as a precursor to public preschool programs and as ongoing parental involvement and training in prekindergarten and kindergarten programs; and

5. the effects of collaboration with Head Start and other preschool programs, and also with health and human service agencies.

(C) The committee shall report its findings to the House Education and Public Works Committee and the Senate Education Committee by March 1, 1995, at which time it shall be dissolved.

(D) Members of the committee shall receive the usual mileage, subsistence, and per diem paid by law to members of state boards, commissions, and committees to be paid from funds appropriated to the Department of Education.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the State Department of Education.