The bill amends section 3321.01 of the Revised Code to clarify the age requirements for kindergarten admission in Ohio. It stipulates that each school district board of education must admit any student who is five years old or, for those who have not completed first grade, six years old by the first day of instruction of the school year. The previous requirement that a child must be five or six years old by the thirtieth day of September has been deleted. Additionally, the bill allows for early admission evaluations for children who will turn five or six before January 1 of the school year in which they seek admission, based on referrals from parents, educators, or medical professionals.

Furthermore, the bill ensures that once a student is admitted to kindergarten, they cannot be denied admission to another school district based on age. It also allows school districts to establish an earlier cutoff date of August 1 for first-grade admission if they choose to do so. The existing section 3321.01 is repealed, indicating a comprehensive update to the law regarding kindergarten and first-grade admissions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3314.06, 3314.08, 3317.0213, 3321.01
As Reported By House Committee: 3321.01
As Passed By House: 3321.01