H 3547 General Bill, By Meacham, Allison, Bailey, Cotty, Law, Littlejohn, 
Moody-Lawrence, Seithel, Stille, D.A. Wright and Young-Brickell
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 59-63-25 so as to provide that under certain conditions a parent or guardian
 whose child or ward will reach the age of four, five, or six before the end of
 December of a particular school year may elect to have that child begin
 four-year old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, or the first grade as
 applicable.

   02/08/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-42
   02/08/95  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-42

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-63-25 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS A PARENT OR GUARDIAN WHOSE CHILD OR WARD WILL REACH THE AGE OF FOUR, FIVE, OR SIX BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER OF A PARTICULAR SCHOOL YEAR MAY ELECT TO HAVE THAT CHILD BEGIN FOUR-YEAR-OLD KINDERGARTEN, FIVE-YEAR-OLD KINDERGARTEN, OR THE FIRST GRADE AS APPLICABLE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-63-25. A parent or guardian whose child or ward will reach the age of four, five, or six before the end of December of a particular school year may elect to have that child begin four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, or the first grade as applicable if in the parent's or guardian's opinion the child is physically and mentally ready to begin that grade. A parent's or guardian's decision for a child to begin kindergarten or the first grade early as permitted by this section may not be overturned by a local board of trustees. The parent or guardian, however, must sign a written document making this election with the governing body of the school district in which the child will attend school. The form of this written document must be prescribed by regulation of the Department of Education. Upon the written election being executed, that child or ward may attend four-year-old kindergarten, five-year-old kindergarten, or the first grade as applicable."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.