REPORT TITLE:
Education


DESCRIPTION:
Authorizes BOE to adjust the age at which a child may attend
public kindergarten.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.410        
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 December
 
 8 31 of the school year; provided that a child attending a school
 
 9 that convenes after the regular school schedule shall be five
 
10 years of age on or before one hundred twenty-five days following
 
11 the date the school convenes; and provided further that the] as
 
12 more specifically determined by the board.  The board shall
 
13 develop informational guidance to promote the understanding of a
 
14 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
 
20 that:
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (1)  A child attending a school that convenes after the
 
 2           regular school schedule shall be at least six years
 
 3           of age on or before one hundred twenty-five days
 
 4           following the date the school shall convene; and
 
 5      (2)  The department may establish procedures and criteria
 
 6           to determine the psychological and physiological
 
 7           readiness of children for public school and may grant
 
 8           an exception in the case of a child who is found to
 
 9           be ready.] as more specifically determined by the
 
10           board."
 
11      SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
12 New statutory material is underscored.
 
13      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
14 
 
15                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________