§151.3. Kindergarten; establishment; entrance age; first grade enrollment, prerequisites

A. Beginning with the 1990-1991 school year and thereafter, each city and parish school system shall provide for and offer, in every school having a first grade or in a parish kindergarten center, full-day kindergarten instruction to each child who is eligible as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

B.(1) The youngest age at which a child may enter kindergarten provided for in Subsection A of this Section shall be one year younger than the age required for that child to enter first grade as provided by R.S. 17:222(A) or, through the 1995-1996 school year, one year younger than the age required by the city or parish school board pursuant to R.S. 17:222(C)(1).

(2) However, each city and parish school board, by rule, may provide, for a child younger than the age prescribed by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection to enter kindergarten; provided that such child has been evaluated and identified as gifted in accordance with the regulations of the state Department of Education for such evaluation. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 17:222(A) or (C), any child admitted to kindergarten pursuant to this Paragraph shall be eligible to enter first grade upon successful completion of kindergarten; provided all other applicable entrance requirements have been fulfilled.

C.(1) Beginning with the 1991-1992 school year and thereafter, every child, as a prerequisite to enrollment in any first grade of a public school, shall have attended at least a full-day public or private kindergarten for a full school year, or shall have satisfactorily passed an academic readiness screening administered by the city or parish school system prior to the time of enrollment for the first grade. Each city or parish school system shall establish the academic readiness level for its first grade based on criteria established by the system.

(2) Beginning with the 1991-1992 school year and thereafter, any child transferring into the first grade of a public school from out of state and not meeting the requirements herein for kindergarten attendance, shall be required to satisfactorily pass an academic readiness screening administered by the city or parish school system prior to the time of enrollment for the first grade.

(3) Beginning with the 1991-1992 school year and thereafter, any child not able to meet the kindergarten attendance requirements of this Section due to illness or extraordinary, extenuating circumstances as determined by the city or parish school board, shall be required to satisfactorily pass an academic readiness screening administered by the city or parish school system prior to the time of enrollment for the first grade.

D. Every parent, tutor, or other person having control or charge of a child who is eligible, as provided in Subsection B of this Section, to attend full-day kindergarten for the 1990-1991 school year or thereafter, as a prerequisite to enrollment in any first grade of a public school, shall send such child, beginning with the 1990-1991 school year, to attend public or private full-day kindergarten when such instruction is offered in the public schools, or insure that such child is administered an academic readiness screening as provided in Subsection C of this Section prior to the time established in R.S. 17:222 for the child to enter first grade.

Acts 1988, No. 435, §1, eff. July 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 906, §1, eff. July 26, 1988; Acts 1993, No. 530, §1.