HB1032: HB1032 Early Enrollment Act; enact

Georgia law currently requires children to turn five by September 1 to enroll in kindergarten and six by September 1 to enroll in first grade, with limited exceptions. This bill, called the Early Enrollment Act, adds a new exception for children who have already completed pre-kindergarten or kindergarten at a qualifying private school but who narrowly miss those age cutoffs. The bill directs the State Board of Education to write statewide guidelines, by January 1, 2027, for how a child demonstrates readiness for early enrollment, using grades, standardized test scores, teacher recommendations, and other factors, including guidance for students who are disabled or learning English. Local school boards must then adopt their own early enrollment policy by July 1, 2027, following those guidelines, including a process for parents to request early enrollment and to appeal a denial. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and apply starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

• Creates a new eligibility path letting a child who completed pre-kindergarten or kindergarten at a qualifying private school enroll early in public kindergarten or first grade despite not meeting the standard age cutoffs.
• Requires the State Board of Education to set statewide guidelines by January 1, 2027 for how a child shows readiness for early kindergarten or first grade enrollment.
• Requires those guidelines to address placement considerations for students identified as disabled or as English learners.
• Requires every local board of education to adopt its own early enrollment policy, following the state guidelines, by July 1, 2027, including a parent request process and an appeals process for denials.
• Directs the State Board of Education to create a model early enrollment policy that local districts can choose to use.
• Sets the law's effective date as July 1, 2026, applying starting with the 2027-2028 school year.

Families with young children who attend private pre-kindergarten or kindergarten and want early entry into public school, local school boards, the State Board of Education, and public school kindergarten and first grade programs across Georgia.

Currently a child who narrowly misses the age cutoff cannot enroll early in public school even after finishing an equivalent grade privately. This bill would open a path for those children, while requiring school boards to set clear, appealable rules rather than leaving the decision ad hoc.

• Section 1 names the law the 'Early Enrollment Act.'
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-150 to add subsection (b.1), creating early enrollment eligibility for children who completed private pre-kindergarten or kindergarten but miss the standard age requirements.
• Section 2 requires the State Board of Education to set readiness guidelines by January 1, 2027, covering grades, norm-referenced test scores, teacher recommendations, and other relevant factors.
• Section 2 requires local boards of education to adopt an early enrollment policy by July 1, 2027, with a parent request process and a denial appeal process, and has the state board create a model policy.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-151 with a minor wording change clarifying the definition of 'full-day kindergarten program' and cross-references the new subsection (b.1) exception.
• Section 4 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
• Section 5 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-29House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-27House Hopper (House)

• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Rhonda Burnough (D, HD-077)

• early enrollment
• kindergarten age requirements
• public schools
• private school students
• education policy