SB 89

Under current law, attendance in school is compulsory for children between the

ages of six and 18. A child who has reached the age of four years may enroll in

four-year-old kindergarten if the school district in which the child resides operates

a four-year-old kindergarten program, and a child who has reached the age of five

years may enroll in five-year-old kindergarten. However, enrollment in and the

completion of kindergarten is not required.

Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, this bill requires a child to complete

five-year-old kindergarten as a prerequisite to being admitted to first grade in a

public school, including a charter school. The bill permits a school board and the

operator of an independent charter school to establish policies, standards,

conditions, and procedures for the parent or guardian of a child to seek an exemption

from the requirement that the child complete kindergarten. The bill also requires

a child who is enrolled in five-year-old kindergarten in a public or private school to

regularly attend kindergarten during the school year.