2017 -- S 0730

========

LC002328

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

A N   A C T

AUTHORIZING THE NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A

POLICY ON EARLY ENTRY TO KINDERGARTEN

     Introduced By: Senator Mark W. Gee

     Date Introduced: April 12, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of §16-2-27, the North Kingstown School

Committee may develop a policy to allow a child who has not attained five (5) years of age on or

before September 1 of any school year, to be eligible to attend kindergarten for all the days that

the kindergarten is in session during that school year. If a child is so enrolled in kindergarten

under this policy, the attendance requirements of §16-19-1 shall apply. Any policy must include

school-readiness criteria to be applied on an individual basis. Any policy must provide children

turning five (5) years of age after September 1 of the school year may be enrolled in kindergarten

that same school year only if they are determined to be school-ready on the basis of relevant,

established criteria.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC002328

========

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

***

     This act would allow the North Kingstown School Committee to develop a policy that

would allow a child who has not attained five (5) years of age on or before September 1 of any

school year, to be eligible to attend kindergarten for all the days that the kindergarten is in session

during that school year. Any policy would need to include school-readiness criteria to be applied

on an individual basis.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC002328

========

LC002328 - Page 2 of 2