SENATE BILL No. 315

 

 

April 12, 2011, Introduced by Senator BOOHER and referred to the Committee on Education.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

 

"The revised school code,"

 

by amending section 1147 (MCL 380.1147).

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1147. (1) A person, child who is a resident of a school

 

district not maintaining a that does not provide kindergarten and

 

who is at least 5 years of age on the first day of enrollment of

 

the school year , shall have a right to may attend school in the

 

school district.

 

     (2) In a school district where provision is made for

 

kindergarten work, that provides kindergarten, a child , who is a

 

resident of the school district , is entitled to may enroll in the

 

kindergarten if the child is at least 5 years of age on December 1

 

of the school year of enrollment. In a school district which has


 

semiannual promotions, a child, resident of the district, is

 

entitled to enroll in kindergarten for the second semester if the

 

child is at least 5 years of age on March 1 of the year of

 

enrollment. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, a child who

 

resides in the school district may enroll in kindergarten if the

 

child is at least 5 years of age on the September 1 immediately

 

preceding enrollment.

 

     (3) If the parent or legal guardian of a child residing in the

 

school district who is not 5 years of age on the September 1 date

 

specified in subsection (2), but who will be 5 years of age not

 

later than December 1 of the school year of enrollment, wants to

 

enroll the child in kindergarten before the school year in which

 

the child is eligible for kindergarten under subsection (2), the

 

parent or legal guardian may apply for a waiver under this

 

subsection. To obtain a waiver, the parent or legal guardian shall

 

apply to the principal of the school in which the child would

 

enroll, using an application form obtained from the principal, not

 

later than May 1 preceding the school year for which enrollment is

 

sought. Upon receipt of the application, the principal shall form a

 

committee consisting of a school administrator and 2 teachers to

 

evaluate the child's kindergarten readiness. The committee shall

 

administer to the child a skills level assessment commonly used in

 

the school district for evaluating kindergarten readiness and shall

 

conduct an interview with the child and the child's parent or legal

 

guardian. Not later than July 1 preceding the school year for which

 

enrollment is sought, the committee shall notify the parent or

 

legal guardian of its decision of whether or not to grant the


 

waiver.

 

     (4) The ages prescribed in this section for a child's

 

eligibility for enrollment in a school district also apply to a

 

child's eligibility to enroll in a public school academy.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No. 316                                   

 

            of the 96th Legislature is enacted into law.