H5974

	2017 -- H 5974
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	LC002231
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017
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	A N A C T
	AUTHORIZING THE NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A
	POLICY ON EARLY ENTRY TO KINDERGARTEN

	Introduced By: Representatives Craven, and Casimiro
	Date Introduced: March 22, 2017
	Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of §16-2-27, the North Kingstown School
2	Committee may develop a policy to allow a child who has not attained five (5) years of age on or
3	before September 1 of any school year, to be eligible to attend kindergarten for all the days that
4	the kindergarten is in session during that school year. If a child is so enrolled in kindergarten
5	under this policy, the attendance requirements of §16-19-1 shall apply. Any policy must include
6	school-readiness criteria to be applied on an individual basis. Any policy must provide children
7	turning five (5) years of age after September 1 of the school year may be enrolled in kindergarten
8	that same school year only if they are determined to be school-ready on the basis of relevant,
9	established criteria.
10	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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	LC002231
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	EXPLANATION
	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
	OF
	A N A C T
	AUTHORIZING THE NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A
	POLICY ON EARLY ENTRY TO KINDERGARTEN
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1	This act would allow the North Kingstown School Committee to develop a policy that
2	would allow a child who has not attained five (5) years of age on or before September 1 of any
3	school year, to be eligible to attend kindergarten for all the days that the kindergarten is in session
4	during that school year. Any policy would need to include school-readiness criteria to be applied
5	on an individual basis.
6	This act would take effect upon passage.
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	LC002231
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	LC002231 - Page 2 of 2