House Supports Role of Kindergarten

On June 13, the House approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Con. Res. 47) supporting the role of kindergarten in children’s lives and recognizing the first free public kindergarten in the U.S., established in 1870 at College Point, Queens, New York.

Sponsored by Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

• Children who attend a high-quality kindergarten demonstrate higher levels of reading and mathematics knowledge and skills than those who do not attend kindergarten;
• A number of studies, including studies commissioned by the Department of Education, demonstrate that children enrolled in kindergarten more rapidly acquire the knowledge and skills integral to succeed in school and life; and
• For some children, kindergarten is the first common ground where they interact with students from a myriad of cultural, economic, racial, and religious backgrounds to learn about their world, each other, and themselves.

Rep. Crowley stated, “The effort that began in College Point today remains a significant feature of our education system. One of the greatest aspects of our nation is that through education, which often starts in kindergarten, each successive generation of children can succeed. Quite simply, the establishment of the first free, public kindergarten in College Point has made our nation a stronger, better place for generations.”