HB440 Summary

• Requires children who are five years old on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten in Alabama public schools.

• Allows children under five years old as of September 1 to be admitted to kindergarten with local board of education approval on a space-available basis if they will turn five between September 1 and December 31 and pass a developmental readiness assessment.

• Permits underage children transferring from public kindergarten in another state to enroll in Alabama public kindergarten with local board approval on a space-available basis.

• Protects teacher positions by prohibiting public school systems from losing any teacher unit as a result of this section.

• Becomes effective June 1, 2021, and falls within a constitutional exception regarding local expenditures, requiring no additional 2/3 legislative vote.