HB1032: HB1032 Early Enrollment Act; enact

26 LC 61 0277 House Bill 1032 By: Representatives Scott of the 76th, Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, and Burnough of the 77th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the1 "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for early enrollment for students who have2 completed pre-kindergarten or kindergarten at a private school but who do not meet the age3 requirements for enrollment in kindergarten or first grade; to require the State Board of4 Education to establish guidelines for early enrollment and to d evelop a model early5 enrollment policy; to require local boards of education to adopt an early enrollment policy;6 to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for7 related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Early Enrollment Act."11 SECTION 2.12 Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, the "Quality13 Basic Education Act," is amended in Code Section 20-2-150, rela ting to eligibility for14 enrollment, by revising subsection (a) and adding a new subsection to read as follows:15 H. B. 1032 - 1 - 26 LC 61 0277 "(a) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) or (b.1) of this Code section, all16 children and youth who have attained the age of five years by September 1 shall be eligible17 for enrollment in the appropriate general education programs authorized in this part unless18 they attain the age of 20 by September 1 or they have received high school diplomas or the19 equivalent. This shall specifically include students who have reenrolled after dropping out20 and who are married, parents, or pregnant. Special education students shall also be eligible21 for enrollment in appropriate education programs through age 21 or until they receive high22 school or special education diplomas or the equivalent; provided, however, that they were23 enrolled during the preceding school year and had an approved Individualized Education24 Program (IEP) which indicated that a successive year of enrollm ent was needed. Other25 students who have not yet attained age 21 by September 1 or received high school diplomas26 or the equivalent shall be eligible for enrollment in appropria te education programs,27 provided they have not dropped out of school for one quarter or more. Each local unit of28 administration shall have the authority to assign students who are married, parents, or29 pregnant or who have reenrolled after dropping out one quarter or more to programs of30 instruction within its regular daytime educational program, pro vided that a local unit of31 administration may develop and implement special programs of instruction limited to such32 students within the regular daytime educational program or, at the option of the student, in33 an alternative program beyond the regular daytime program; provided, further, that such34 programs of instruction are designed to enable such students to earn course credit toward35 receiving high school diplomas. These programs may include instruction in prenatal care36 and child care. Each local unit of administration shall have t he authority to provide37 alternative programs beyond the regular daytime educational program. Unless otherwise38 provided by law, the State Board of Education shall have the au thority to determine the39 eligibility of students for enrollment. It is declared to be the policy of this state that general40 and occupational education be integrated into a comprehensive educational program which41 will contribute to the total development of the individual."42 H. B. 1032 - 2 - 26 LC 61 0277 "(b.1)(1) A child who has successfully completed pre-kindergarten or kindergarten at a43 private school which meets the requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-69044 shall be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten, if such child has completed45 pre-kindergarten, or first grade, if such child has completed k indergarten, in the46 appropriate general or special education programs authorized in this part if such child is47 otherwise qualified; provided, however, that, if such child doe s not meet the age48 requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section for eligibi lity for enrollment in49 kindergarten or the age requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Code Section50 20-2-151 for eligibility for enrollment in first grade, such child may be eligible for early51 enrollment if he or she demonstrates readiness for kindergarten or first grade in52 accordance with this subsection.53 (2) No later than January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education shall establish guidelines54 for a student to demonstrate readiness for kindergarten, which shall include a student's55 grades, his or her scores on norm-referenced assessments, teacher recommendations, and56 other factors relevant to determine whether a student is ready for kindergarten. Such57 guidelines shall provide that the first grade readiness assessm ent required by Code58 Sections 20-2-151 and 20-2-281 shall be used to determine if a student is ready for first59 grade. Such guidelines shall include information pertinent to consideration of the60 placement of students who have been identified as being disable d or61 limited-English-proficient.62 (3) No later than July 1, 2027, each local board of education shall adopt an early63 enrollment policy in accordance with the guidelines established by the State Board of64 Education pursuant to this subsection. Such policy shall establish a process for a parent65 or guardian to request early enrollment for his or her child an d an appeal process for66 denials of such requests. The State Board of Education shall d evelop a model early67 enrollment policy which may be utilized by a local board of education."68 H. B. 1032 - 3 - 26 LC 61 0277 SECTION 3.69 Said article is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-151, relating70 to general and career education programs, purpose, and authorized programs, as follows:71 "(b) The following general and career education programs are authorized for purposes of72 funding under this article:73 (1)(A) All local school systems may offer a full-day kindergar ten program. For74 purposes of As used in this subsection, the term 'full-day kindergarten program' means75 a student is provided classroom instruction for a minimum of four and one-half hours76 daily for a 180 day school year, or the equivalent thereof as determined in accordance77 with State Board of Education guidelines.78 (B) It is the policy of this state that the purposes of the kindergarten program shall be79 to provide all children with an equal opportunity to become prepared for a successful80 first grade experience and to acquire the foundation for academic progress throughout81 the students' educational careers. To be eligible for enrollme nt in a state supported82 kindergarten program, a child must attain the age of five by Se ptember 1, except as83 otherwise provided by subsection (b) or (b.1) of Code Section 20-2-150;84 (2) It is the policy of this state that the purpose of the primary grades program shall be85 mastery by enrolled students of the essential basic skills and knowledge which will86 enable them to achieve more advanced skills and knowledge offered at the higher grade87 levels. For purposes of funding under this article, the primar y grades program shall88 include grades one, two, and three. To be eligible for enrollment in the first grade of a89 state supported primary grades program, a child must attain the age of six by September90 1, except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) or (b.1) of Code Section 20-2-150. The91 State Board of Education shall adopt an instrument or instrumen ts, procedures, and92 policies necessary to assess the first grade readiness of child ren enrolled in Georgia's93 public school kindergarten programs pursuant to Code Section 20 -2-281. Readiness94 information obtained by the instrument or instruments adopted by the state board shall95 H. B. 1032 - 4 - 26 LC 61 0277 be used by local school systems in concert with teacher recomme ndations and other96 relevant information to make appropriate student grade placemen t decisions. The97 Department of Education shall develop guidelines for utilizatio n of the instrument or98 instruments in grade placement decisions and shall provide such guidelines to local99 school systems. The guidelines shall include information pertinent to consideration of100 the placement of students who have been identified as being dis abled or101 limited-English-proficient. Whenever the decision is made not to promote a child to the102 first grade, the local school system shall document the reasons for the decision not to103 promote, according to guidelines established by the board. The State School104 Superintendent may annually provide a report summarizing the results of the readiness105 of first grade Georgia public school kindergarten children. No student shall remain in106 kindergarten for more than two years;107 (3) It is the policy of this state that the primary purposes of the middle grades program108 shall be assuring the mastery of essential basic skills and knowledge, assisting students109 in the transition from childhood to adolescence, and preparing students for the selection110 of programs and courses consistent with their abilities and interests when they enter high111 school, as well as providing an opportunity for mastery of essential but more advanced112 skills and knowledge. For purposes of funding under this artic le, the middle grades113 program shall include grades four, five, six, seven, and eight; and114 (4)(A) It is the policy of this state that the primary purpose s of the high school115 programs shall be to prepare students for the continuation of t heir education beyond116 high school and for entry into their chosen career fields as we ll as to prepare them to117 take their places in society as young adults. The following high school programs for118 grades nine, ten, 11, and 12 are authorized for purposes of funding under this article:119 (i) The high school education program; and120 (ii) The career, technical, and agricultural education laboratory program.121 H. B. 1032 - 5 - 26 LC 61 0277 (B) As a reflection of the reduced teacher-student ratios and more extensive material122 and equipment needed for effective laboratory courses compared to courses with no or123 only limited laboratory experiences, the career, technical, and agricultural education124 laboratory program shall be funded at a higher level than the h igh school general125 education program. The state board shall adopt criteria which courses must meet in126 order to qualify for the career, technical, and agricultural ed ucation laboratory127 program."128 SECTION 4.129 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026, and shall appl y beginning with the130 2027-2028 school year.131 SECTION 5.132 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.133 H. B. 1032 - 6 -