Bill Text: GA HB854 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Quality Basic Education Act; early admission into kindergarten or first grade; provisions
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-11 - House Second Readers [HB854 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-HB854-Introduced.html
09 LC
33 3249
House
Bill 854
By:
Representatives Mayo of the
91st,
Taylor of the
55th,
and Sellier of the
136th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic
Education Act," so as to provide for early admission into kindergarten or first
grade for students who complete pre-kindergarten or kindergarten in a private
program under certain conditions; to provide for assessment committees; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education
Act," is amended in Code Section 20-2-150, relating to eligibility for
enrollment, by revising subsection (a) and adding a new subsection to read as
follows:
"(a)
Except as otherwise provided by subsection (b)
or
(b.1) of this Code section, all children
and youth who have attained the age of five years by September 1 shall be
eligible for enrollment in the appropriate general education programs authorized
in this part unless they attain the age of 20 by September 1 or they have
received high school diplomas or the equivalent. This shall specifically
include students who have reenrolled after dropping out and who are married,
parents, or pregnant. Special education students shall also be eligible for
enrollment in appropriate education programs through age 21 or until they
receive high school or special education diplomas or the equivalent; provided,
however,
that
they were enrolled during the preceding school year and had an approved
Individualized Education Program (IEP) which indicated that a successive year of
enrollment was needed. Other students who have not yet attained
the
age
of
21 by September 1 or received high school diplomas or the equivalent shall be
eligible for enrollment in appropriate education programs, provided they have
not dropped out of school for one quarter or more. Each local unit of
administration shall have the authority to assign students who are married,
parents, or pregnant or who have reenrolled after dropping out
for
one quarter or more to programs of instruction within its regular daytime
educational program, provided that a local unit of administration may develop
and implement special programs of instruction limited to such students within
the regular daytime educational program or, at the option of the student, in an
alternative program beyond the regular daytime program; provided, further, that
such programs of instruction are designed to enable such students to earn course
credit toward receiving high school diplomas. These programs may include
instruction in prenatal care and child care. Each local unit of administration
shall have the authority to provide alternative programs beyond the regular
daytime educational program. Unless otherwise provided by law, the State Board
of Education shall have the authority to determine the eligibility of students
for enrollment. It is declared to be the policy of this state that general and
occupational education be integrated into a comprehensive educational program
which will contribute to the total development of the
individual."
"(b.1)(1)
A child who completes kindergarten in a private school in this state which meets
the requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-690 shall be eligible
for enrollment in first grade in the appropriate general or special education
programs authorized in this part if such child will attain the age of six by
December 31, is approved by an assessment committee pursuant to paragraph (3) of
this subsection, and is otherwise qualified.
(2)
A child who completes a pre-kindergarten program in a private school in this
state which meets the following requirements shall be eligible, at the
discretion of the local board of education, for early enrollment in kindergarten
in the appropriate general or special education programs authorized in this part
if such child will attain the age of five by December 31, is approved by an
assessment committee pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection, and is
otherwise qualified:
(A)
The pre-kindergarten program provides at least 6.5 hours of instructional
services per day;
(B)
The pre-kindergarten program provides a school calendar comprising 190 days,
which includes 180 days of service to families and ten additional days for
related activities, such as pre-planning, post-planning, staff development, and
in-service days; and
(C)
The pre-kindergarten program requires each parent to send their child to the
program for 6.5 hours of instructional services per day, 180 days per school
year and requires parents to agree that their child may be disenrolled if
chronically tardy or absent or if not picked up on time at the end of the
regular school day, unless enrolled in the extended day program.
(3)
Upon the request of a parent or guardian of a child who meets the applicable
criteria in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Code section, the local school system
shall convene an assessment committee composed of a representative of the local
board of education, a teacher of the school in kindergarten or first grade, as
appropriate, and the parent or guardian. The committee shall approve or deny
the early enrollment request based on the readiness of the child as determined
by the committee."
SECTION
2.
Said
part is further 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
kindergarten
program' 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 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)
or
(b.1) of Code Section
20-2-150;"
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.