I'm surprised at the push back this has gotten. As the article says, kindergarten isn't mandatory in California. I grew up in California in the 80s and missed half my year of what would have been kindergarten because of a persistent lung infection. It didn't make any difference. I don't have many memories that far back, but all I remember learning to do when I was there was how to spell my name, which I could already do anyway. I'm sure there are some things a teacher can do that a parent can't do, but nothing you learn in kindergarten is among those things.