State Kindergarten Statutes
KindergartenEducation Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 Fax: 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgState Kindergarten Statutes: State ProfilesUpdated December 2010Alabama . 3Alaska . 5Arizona . 7Arkansas . 10California . 13Colorado . 17Connecticut . 20Delaware . 22District of Columbia . 25Florida . 27Georgia . 30Hawaii . 32Idaho . 34Illinois. 36Indiana . 38Iowa . 40Kansas . 43Kentucky. 45Louisiana . 47Maine . 50Maryland. 53Massachusetts . 56Michigan . 58Minnesota . 60Mississippi . 63Missouri . 65Montana . 67Nebraska . 69Nevada . 72New Hampshire . 74New Jersey. 76New Mexico . 79New York . 82
North Carolina . 85North Dakota . 88Ohio . 91Oklahoma . 94Oregon . 97Pennsylvania . 99Puerto Rico . 101Rhode Island . 103South Carolina . 105South Dakota . 108Tennessee . 110Texas . 113Utah . 115Vermont . 117Virgin Islands. 119Virginia . 121Washington . 124West Virginia . 126Wisconsin . 129Wyoming . 131Education Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 fax 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgPage 2
AlabamaState Kindergarten PoliciesKindergarten Entrance Age5 on or before September 1 (Ala. Code § 16-28-40)Compulsory School Age7 (Ala. Code § 16-28-3)Provision for Early Entry to Kindergarten"An underage child who transfers from the public schoolkindergarten in another state may be admitted to localpublic kindergarten on the prior approval of the local boardof education on a space available basis." (Ala. Code § 16-284)Other Age IssuesIf a district chooses to offer kindergarten, "children from 5to 8-years-of-age may be admitted to kindergarten on suchterms and conditions which county boards of educationmay prescribe." (Ala. Code § 16-8-41)Minimum Required Hours/Days for KindergartenNot specified in statuteAdmission Requirements for KindergartenCertification of immunization (Ala. Code § 16-30-4)Kindergarten Curriculum - General InfoStudents in grades K-12 inclusive must "receive instructionregarding how to study." (Ala. Code § 16-40-1.1)Kindergarten Standards - General InfoNot specified in statuteKindergarten Assessment - General InfoNot specified in statuteState Pays for Early Entry Kindergarten Students?Not applicableDistrict Offering of KindergartenMandatory (Ala. Code § 16-6A-4)District Offering of Kindergarten: Notes—Student Attendance in KindergartenPermissiveStudent Attendance in Kindergarten: Notes—Kindergarten DemographicsMaximum Kindergarten Class SizeNot specified in statuteRequired Kindergarten Teacher:Student RatiosNot specified in statuteA ratio of 1:18 is suggested by the Instructional ServicesRules of the State Board of Education. (Ala. Admin. Code r.290-5-1)Education Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 fax 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgPage 3
Provision for Skipping Kindergarten"An underage child who transfers from the 1st grade of aschool in another state may be admitted to school uponapproval of the board of education in authority, and anunderage child who has moved into this state havingcompleted or graduated from a mandated kindergartenprogram in another state shall be entitled to admission tothe public elementary schools regardless of age." (Ala. Code§ 16-28-24)Conditions for Kindergarten ExemptionKindergarten attendance is not mandatory in this state.Full-Day KindergartenAdmission Requirements Specific to Full-DayKindergartenNot specified in statuteStudent Attendance in Full-Day KindergartenPermissiveDistrict Offering of Full-Day KindergartenMandatory (Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-5-.01)District Offering of Full-Day Kindergarten: Notes—If district offering of full-day kindergarten is mandatory,must districts also offer a half-day kindergarten option?Not specified in statuteFull-Day Kindergarten Attendance: Notes—Kindergarten Teacher IssuesKindergarten Teacher Certification RequirementsNot specified in statuteEarly Childhood Training or Certification Requirementsfor Kindergarten TeachersNot specified in statuteEducation Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 fax 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgPage 4
AlaskaState Kindergarten PoliciesKindergarten Entrance Age5 before August 15 (Alaska Stat. § 14.03.080)Compulsory School Age7 (Alaska Stat. § 14.30.010)Provision for Early Entry to Kindergarten"A child under school age may be admitted to the school inthe district of which the child is a resident if immediatelybefore the child became a resident of the district, the childwas legally enrolled in the public schools of another districtor state.A child under school age may be admitted to thepublic school in the school district of which the child is aresident at the discretion of the governing body of theschool district if the child meets minimum standardsprescribed by the board evidencing that the child has themental, physical, and emotional capacity to performsatisfactorily for the educational program being offered. Adistrict's educational program must prescribe that underschool-age students advance through the curriculum orgrade level by the following school year." (Alaska Stat. §14.03.080)Other Age IssuesNot specified in statuteMinimum Required Hours/Days for KindergartenNot specified in statuteAdmission Requirements for KindergartenNot specified in statuteKindergarten Curriculum - General Info"Each district in the state public school system shall beencouraged to initiate and conduct a program in healtheducation for grades K-12." (Alaska Stat. § 14.30.360)"The state board [of education] shall establish guidelines fora health and personal safety education.The board shallencourage each [local] school board to initiate and conducta program of environmental education for grades K-12."(Alaska Stat. § 14.30.080)Kindergarten Standards - General InfoNot specified in statuteKindergarten Assessment - General Info"The [state] department [of education] shall develop acomprehensive system of student assessments, composedof multiple indicators of proficiency in reading, writing andmathematics [that includes] a developmental profile forstudents entering kindergarten or 1st grade." (Alaska Stat. §14.07.020)"A vision and hearing screening examination shall be givento each child attending school in the state. The examinationshall be made when the child enters school or as soonEducation Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 fax 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgPage 5
thereafter as is practicable, and at regular intervalsspecified by regulation by the governing body of thedistrict."(Alaska Stat. § 14.30.127)State Pays for Early Entry Kindergarten Students?NoDistrict Offering of KindergartenPermissiveDistrict Offering of Kindergarten: Notes—Student Attendance in KindergartenPermissiveStudent Attendance in Kindergarten: Notes—Kindergarten DemographicsMaximum Kindergarten Class SizeNot specified in statuteRequired Kindergarten Teacher:Student RatiosNot specified in statuteProvision for Skipping KindergartenNot specified in statuteConditions for Kindergarten ExemptionKindergarten attendance is not mandatory in this state.Full-Day KindergartenAdmission Requirements Specific to Full-DayKindergartenNot specified in statuteStudent Attendance in Full-Day KindergartenPermissiveDistrict Offering of Full-Day KindergartenPermissiveDistrict Offering of Full-Day Kindergarten: Notes—If district offering of full-day kindergarten is mandatory,must districts also offer a half-day kindergarten option?Not applicableFull-Day Kindergarten Attendance: Notes—Kindergarten Teacher IssuesKindergarten Teacher Certification RequirementsNot specified in statuteEarly Childhood Training or Certification Requirementsfor Kindergarten TeachersNot specified in statuteEducation Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 fax 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgPage 6
ArizonaState Kindergarten PoliciesKindergarten Entrance Age5 before September 1 (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-821)Compulsory School Age6 (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-802)Provision for Early Entry to KindergartenIf, in consultation with the parent/guardian, the child, theteacher and the school principal, it is determined to be inthe best interest of the child, a child may be admitted tokindergarten early. Such child must reach the required ageof 5 by January 1 of the current school year. (Ariz. Rev. Stat.§ 15-821)Other Age IssuesThe state board of education may "exclude from grades 1-8children under six years of age." (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-342)Minimum Required Hours/Days for KindergartenNot specified in statuteAdmission Requirements for KindergartenProof of age and identity (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-828)"School districts do not have authority to require a privateevaluation for which a fee is charged as a condition ofkindergarten admission." (I88 Op. Att'y Gen. 095, cited inAriz. Rev. Stat. § 15-703)"A child who enrolls in a kindergarten program or grades 112 after receiving instruction in a home school programshall be tested. . .in order to determine the appropriategrade level for the educational placement of the child."(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-745)Kindergarten Curriculum - General InfoDistricts providing instruction in grades K-3 must "adopt ascientifically based reading curriculum." (Ariz. Rev. Stat. §15-704)Kindergarten Standards - General Info"Each school district that establishes a kindergartenprogram shall offer half-day kindergarten programs thatprovide academically meaningful instruction in each of theacademic standards adopted by the state board ofeducation." (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-704)Kindergarten Assessment - General Info"A child who enrolls in a kindergarten program or grades 112 after receiving instruction in a home school programshall be tested.in order to determine the appropriategrade level for the educational placement of the child."(Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-475)Districts providing instruction in grades K-3 must select andadminister "screening, ongoing diagnostic and classroombased instructional reading assessments" to monitorEducation Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 fax 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgPage 7
student progress. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-704)State Pays for Early Entry Kindergarten Students?NoDistrict Offering of KindergartenMandatory (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-703)District Offering of Kindergarten: NotesDistricts may offer a 3-day/week kindergarten program solong as the instructional time is equal to the instructionaltime offered in a 5-day school week. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15341)"A district is exempt from establishing a kindergartenprogram if it files with the [state] department of educationan exemption claim which states that the establishment ofa kindergarten program will interfere with the work of, ormaintenance of efficiency in, the grades and that akindergarten program is not in the best interests of thedistrict." (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-703)Student Attendance in KindergartenPermissiveStudent Attendance in Kindergarten: Notes—Kindergarten DemographicsMaximum Kindergarten Class SizeNot specified in statuteRequired Kindergarten Teacher:Student RatiosNot specified in statuteProvision for Skipping KindergartenIf, in consultation with the parent/guardian, the child, theteacher and the school principal, it is determined to be inthe best interest of the child, a child may be admitted to the1st grade early. Such child must reach the required age of 6by January 1 of the current school year. (Ariz. Rev. Stat. §15-821)Conditions for Kindergarten ExemptionKindergarten attendance is not required in this state.Full-Day KindergartenAdmission Requirements Specific to Full-DayKindergartenNot specified in statuteStudent Attendance in Full-Day KindergartenPermissiveDistrict Offering of Full-Day KindergartenPermissiveDistrict Offering of Full-Day Kindergarten: Notes"State law does not require fee waivers for extended-daykindergarten programs that are offered as communityschool programs, but if such programs are offered as anextracurricular activity under A.R.S. section, school districtsmust give school principals discretion to waive all or part ofthe fee for the program if it would create an economicEducation Commission of the States 700 Broadway, Suite 810 Denver, CO 80203-3442 303.299.3600 fax 303.296.8332 www.ecs.orgPage 8
hardship for a pupil." (I99 Op. Att'y Gen. 021)"A school district that establishes a full-day kindergartenprogram shall allow each parent of a kindergarten pupil tochoose either half-day kindergarten instruction or full-daykindergarten instruction." (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-703)If district of
Kindergarten Standards - General Info "Each school district that establishes a kindergarten program shall offer half-day kindergarten programs that provide academically meaningful instruction in each of the academic standards adopted by the state board of education." (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 15-704)
benefit from starting a kindergarten program later. Where can I get advice on the best time to start kindergarten? If you are unsure about the best time for your child to start a kindergarten program, ask a kindergarten educator for advice. Find out how the kindergarten program can support your child. Meet with the principal or a teacher at the
Kindergarten Handbook for Parents 2 PHILOSOPHY The kindergarten program in the Plano Independent School District has been developed within Texas Education Agency guidelines. The program is uniquely adapted to meet the needs and interests of the kindergarten child. The kindergarten program is designed to promote children's knowledge and skills
year of a two-year kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age and developmentally appropriate” (Education Code Section 48000[d]). School districts are required to begin phasing in transitional kindergarten in the 2012-13 school year. This planning guide focuses on the first kindergarten year, referred to as TK.
district preschool program as measured by kindergarten progress reports completed by their kindergarten teachers at the conclusion of the first semester. Definition of Terms The terms listed below will clarify any misunderstandings within the study: Full-time kindergarten- children attend kindergarten in an elementary
kindergarten skills including science, phonics, reading and math. Kindergarten Welcome to Carnival Marvel! Step right up to play 6 learning games that teach over 45 essential reading and math skills for kindergarten. Dora the Explorer ¡Hola! Help Dora and Boots rescue animals and learn 45 pre-kindergarten and kindergarten skills! ¡Vamonos .
While kindergarten entry marks a significant milestone for most five- and six-year-olds across the country, kindergarten is only compulsory in fifteen US states (Workman, 2014). Moreover, though many young children have prior outside-of-the-home learning experiences at preschools and/or childcare centers, kindergarten has traditionally served to
Pre-Kindergarten at Uncommon Schools 7 The Pre-Kindergarten Opportunity in New York State Last year, the New York State Department of Education released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for public Pre-Kindergarten funding. Under this RFP, six charter schools, all in New York City, applied and launched Pre-K in the 2014-2015 school year.
Year 12 Opportunities for Prospective Applicants Thanks to the outreach work of universities and colleges, professional bodies and widening participation charities, there now exist a wide range of opportunities for UK maintained-sector students to explore Higher Education in the years before they come to apply. While many providers offer opportunities for KS4 pupils, or even younger year .
