Bad Bill Bob's Commentary on LC2170

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Currently, MT's compulsory attendance law requires all children ages 7-16 to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
be provided an 'organized course of instruction', unless exempted by the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
attendance in a home or private education program.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
This bill, if passed, would modify a MT law, (that has NOT be tweaked for 30 years) that                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
has worked for both public and private education. This bill would LOWER the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
early age from 7 years old, to 6. And raise the higher age from 16, to 17 (or                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
proof of graduation from high school).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
In the 2007 session, a bill was passed to require all school districts to provide                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
opportunity to parents to enroll their young children OPTIONALLY into FULLTIME                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
kindergarten. The bill was sold to the legislature (and public) by stating clearly                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
that it was OPTIONAL.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
The slippery slope began only 2 years ago. Now we have a bill that will MANDATE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
6 year olds to be in school. And for those who are in high school, the age of 16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
would be scraped and replaced by 17.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
This bill is anti-family. It would remove and undermine a parent's decision as to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
when a child would be required to start school. Many suspected that the optional                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
kindergarten bill of 2007 would quickly develop into a required program.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
And for those parents who are planning on their children starting either home                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
or private schools at the age of 7, this bill will be nothing but trouble.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
This is a bill that will undermine families and parental choice.