REPORT TITLE:
School Attendance


DESCRIPTION:
Authorizes the BOE to determine the readiness standards for
kindergarten and first grade attendance.  (SD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1272
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           S.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] is 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], or unless the child meets readiness standards specifically
 
13 determined by the board.  The board shall develop informational
 
14 guidance to promote the understanding of a child's readiness for
 
15 kindergarten."
 
16      SECTION 2.  Section 302A-1131, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
17 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
18      "(a)  Except as authorized by section 302A-411, no child
 
19 shall attend any public school unless the child [will be] is at
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 least six years of age [before January 1 of the school year:
 
 2 provided that:
 
 3      (1)  A child attending a school that convenes after the
 
 4           regular school schedule shall be at least six years of
 
 5           age on or before one hundred twenty-five days following
 
 6           the date the school shall convene; and
 
 7      (2)  The department may establish procedures and criteria to
 
 8           determine the psychological and physiological readiness
 
 9           of children for public school and may grant an
 
10           exception in the case of a child who is found to be
 
11           ready.], or unless the child meets readiness standards
 
12           specifically determined by the board."
 
13      SECTION 3.  The board shall submit a proposed implementation
 
14 plan twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
 
15 2000.  The plan shall include procedures and criteria for
 
16 screening each child entering a public school; provided that once
 
17 the board establishes readiness standards, a parent shall have
 
18 the option of requesting a screening to determine if the child
 
19 shall be admitted.
 
20      SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
21 New statutory material is underscored.
 
22      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.