California would delay kindergarten for thousands of youngsters under a bill approved by the state Senate. The bill passed 21-15 yesterday and now heads to the Governor. It would require children to have turned five by September 1st to begin kindergarten in that school year. The current cutoff date is December 2nd. California, Connecticut, Michigan and Vermont are the only states that have a cutoff date later than December 1st. The state Department of Education says about 100,000 of the state's 430,000 children start kindergarten before their 5th birthday. The bill could save the state an estimated $700 million per year by cutting enrollment. SB-1381 would be phased in over three years starting in the 2012-13 school year.