The bill amends Section 16-28-4 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to revise the age requirements for children's admission to public schools, particularly for kindergarten and first grade. It establishes that children must be five years old on or before September 1 or the start date of school in their district to qualify for kindergarten, changing the previous minimum age from six to five. Additionally, it requires that children complete kindergarten or demonstrate readiness for first grade before being admitted to first grade. The bill also allows for exceptions for underage children under certain conditions, such as transferring from a kindergarten in another state or meeting specific readiness criteria set by the local board of education.

Moreover, the bill introduces new provisions for assessing developmental readiness for first grade, which will be implemented starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It mandates the State Department of Education to create an assessment for readiness and provide resources for students needing additional support. The bill also emphasizes promoting kindergarten enrollment through an informational campaign in areas with low enrollment rates and notes that these changes may require new or increased local funding. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2024. While the specific insertions and deletions in the legal language are not detailed in the summary, the legislative process indicates that the bill was revised in the Senate before being approved by the House, suggesting modifications were made to enhance its provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-28-4
Enrolled: 16-28-4