Edwards' legislative agenda includes mandatory kindergarten, teacher raises, higher minimum wage

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his agenda Thursday for the legislative session that starts Monday, including his support for making kindergarten mandatory for every Louisiana student.

The estimated cost of the change to the state’s multibillion education budget is $12 million or less. The proposal is in line with lawmakers’ recent emphasis on early childhood education, though critics believe the mandate infringes on families’ right to make that decision for themselves.