07 LC 33
1807
House
Bill 431
By:
Representatives Morgan of the
39th,
Ashe of the
56th,
Sims of the
151st,
Floyd of the
99th,
Everson of the
106th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for mandatory
kindergarten for all children prior to entering into first grade; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary
and secondary education, is amended in Code Section 20-2-151, relating to
general and career education programs, by revising paragraph (1) of subsection
(b) as follows:
"(1)(A)
All local school systems shall offer a full-day kindergarten program. For
purposes of this subsection, the term 'full-day basis' means a student is
provided classroom instruction for a minimum of four and one-half hours daily
for a 180 day school year.
(B)
It is the policy of this state that
all children
shall be required to attend kindergarten for one school year before enrolling in
first grade and that the purposes of the
kindergarten program shall be to provide all children with an equal opportunity
to become prepared for a successful first grade experience and to acquire the
foundation for academic progress throughout the students´ educational
careers. To be eligible for enrollment in a state supported kindergarten
program, a child must attain the age of five by September 1, except as otherwise
provided by subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-150;"
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended in Code Section 20-2-690.1, relating to mandatory
education for children, by revising subsection (a) as follows:
"(a)
Mandatory attendance in a public school, private school, or home school program
shall be required for children between their
fifth
sixth
and sixteenth birthdays. Such mandatory attendance shall not be required where
the child has successfully completed all requirements for a high school
diploma."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.