PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island's youngest students would have a longer school day under a proposal requiring all-day kindergarten that's now pending before the General Assembly.

Lawmakers last year endorsed the idea of statewide all-day kindergarten but stopped short of requiring it.

Now, Rep. Roberto DaSilva, an East Providence Democrat, says it's time to take the next step. DaSilva cites studies that show that full-day kindergarten is especially beneficial to poor and minority children.

About half of the state's school districts already offer all-day kindergarten.

If the proposal passes, school districts would be required to give kindergarteners at least five-and-a-half hours of school.

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