REPORT TITLE:
Education; School Attendance


DESCRIPTION:
Permits the Board of Education to determine the starting age for
children entering kindergarten and the first grade.  (HB1088 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1088
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Section 302A-411, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
 3      "(a)  The department shall establish and maintain
 
 4 kindergartens with a program of instruction as a part of the
 
 5 public school system; provided that attendance shall not be
 
 6 mandatory.  No child shall attend any kindergarten unless the
 
 7 child will be at least five years of age [on or before
 
 8 December 31 of the school year; provided that a child attending a
 
 9 school that convenes after the regular school schedule shall be
 
10 five years of age on or before one hundred twenty-five days
 
11 following the date the school convenes; and provided further that
 
12 the] as more specifically determined by the board.  The board
 
13 shall develop informational guidance to promote the understanding
 
14 of a child's readiness for kindergarten."
 
15      SECTION 2.  Section 302A-1131, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
16 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
17      "(a)  Except as authorized by section 302A-411, no child
 
18 shall attend any public school unless the child will be at least
 
19 six years of age [before January 1 of the school year: provided
 

 
Page 2                                                     1088
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 that:
 
 2      (1)  A child attending a school that convenes after the
 
 3           regular school schedule shall be at least six years of
 
 4           age on or before one hundred twenty-five days following
 
 5           the date the school shall convene; and
 
 6      (2)  The department may establish procedures and criteria to
 
 7           determine the psychological and physiological readiness
 
 8           of children for public school and may grant an
 
 9           exception in the case of a child who is found to be
 
10           ready.] as more specifically determined by the board."
 
11      SECTION 3.  (a)  No later than July 1, 2000, the board, with
 
12 the assistance and cooperation of the department of education,
 
13 shall plan and develop rules for the starting age of children
 
14 entering kindergarten and the first grade.
 
15      (b)  The board shall develop the new rules by June 30, 2000,
 
16 and may implement them beginning in the 2000-2001 school year.
 
17      (c)  The board shall submit a report to the legislature and
 
18 the governor no later than twenty days prior to the convening of
 
19 the regular session of 2001 detailing information on the
 
20 effectiveness, if any, due to the implementation of the new
 
21 rules.
 
22      SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
23 New statutory material is underscored.
 

 
Page 3                                                     1088
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
 
 2 provided that sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2000.