SB76 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donnie ChesteenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public elementary school, admittance of children to kindergarten and first grade, demonstration of first grade readiness

Summary

SB76 would modify Alabama's kindergarten and first-grade admission rules to allow readiness-based entry, additional underage admissions, and related assessments and policies.

What This Bill Does

It allows a child who turns six by December 31 (or by the school start date) to enter first grade if they have completed kindergarten or demonstrate first-grade readiness through an assessment developed by the State Department of Education. It creates rules for underage admission to public kindergarten in limited cases, such as transferring from another state or turning five between September 1 and December 31, with space-available basis and criteria set by the local board, including readiness assessments. It allows an underage child transferring from the first grade in another state to enroll in first grade; in districts with semiannual promotions, a six-year-old may start the second semester with board approval. The Department would publish information about essential first-grade readiness, and if a child does not meet readiness as determined by the approved assessment, the child would be enrolled in kindergarten.

Who It Affects

• Public school students and families, particularly those seeking early entrance to kindergarten or first grade under new age and readiness rules.
• Local school districts and state education agencies, which must implement readiness assessments, determine admissions on space, adopt policies, publish information, and manage related funding considerations.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 16-28-4 to allow a child who turns six by December 31 (or by the school start date) to be admitted to first grade if they have completed kindergarten or demonstrate first-grade readiness as determined by an assessment.
• Allows an underage child to be admitted to public kindergarten on a space-available basis in two circumstances: (a) transferring from a public kindergarten in another state; (b) turning five between September 1 and December 31 and meeting criteria set by the local board, including readiness assessment.
• Requires an assessment of essential development and physical skills to determine first-grade readiness for underage entrants who have not completed kindergarten; the assessment is created by the State Department of Education and approved by the State Board; the Department must publish readiness information on its website.
• Allows an underage child transferring from the first grade of a school in another state to be admitted to the first grade; and allows a six-year-old, with local board approval, to begin the second semester in districts with semiannual promotions.
• If a child does not meet first-grade readiness as determined by the approved assessment, the child shall be enrolled in kindergarten; the State Board may adopt implementation policies; the bill does not affect special education eligibility or teacher units; the act becomes effective July 1, 2024, with local expenditure considerations addressed under constitutional provisions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education