In this article from September 2022, Kerry McDonald argues against mandatory kindergarten, citing three key reasons: it increases ADHD diagnoses among younger students due to age cutoffs, imposes academic expectations misaligned with natural child development, and erodes parental autonomy by expanding state control over education. Highlighting California’s then-pending legislation to become the 20th state with such a mandate, she critiques the trend of pushing formal education earlier, backed by policies like No Child Left Behind, and advocates for less compulsory schooling to preserve family choice.

California’s mandatory kindergarten law, referenced as pending in the article, was signed into effect by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 8, 2022, under Senate Bill 70. This legislation requires children to complete one year of kindergarten before entering first grade, effective from the 2024-2025 school year, making California the 20th state with such a requirement.

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