Senate Bill 582 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-104(c)(1), to establish specific enrollment deadlines for local education agencies (LEAs) regarding voluntary pre-kindergarten classrooms. The bill mandates that the Department of Education set an initial enrollment deadline for LEAs to determine if there is space available for students beyond at-risk children in their geographic area, which must occur no later than the start of the school year. Additionally, if space remains after the initial deadline, a second enrollment deadline must be established, which cannot extend beyond August 30.

The changes in the bill replace the existing language in the law, ensuring that LEAs have clear guidelines for enrollment timelines. This legislation is set to take effect upon becoming law and will apply to the 2025-2026 school year and subsequent years, aiming to streamline the enrollment process for pre-kindergarten programs in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-104(c)(1), 49-6-104