Current Status Bill Number:3547 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19950208 Primary Sponsor:Meacham, All Sponsors:Meacham, A. Young, Moody-Lawrence, Bailey, Wright, Seithel, Allison, Cotty, Stille, Law and Littlejohn Drafted Document Number:gjk\21342sd.95 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:Kindergarten or first grade
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19950208 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
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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.