CA Bill Would Delay Kindergarten for 4-Year-Olds

California would delay kindergarten for thousands of youngsters under a bill approved by the state Senate.

The bill passed Tuesday and now heads to the governor. It would require children to have turned five by September first to begin kindergarten that school year. The current cutoff date is December second.

The state Department of Education says nearly 100,000 of the state's 430,000 children start kindergarten before their fifth birthday.

The bill by Palo Alto Senator Joe Simitian could save the state an estimated $700 million per year by cutting enrollment.