HB113 Summary

• Changes kindergarten enrollment age requirement from six years old by December 31 to five years old by September 1, allowing younger children to enter kindergarten.

• Requires children to either complete kindergarten or demonstrate first grade readiness via a State Department of Education assessment before entering first grade.

• Permits underage children (under five by September 1 for kindergarten, under six by December 31 for first grade) to enroll with local board approval if they transfer from out-of-state schools or meet board-established criteria.

• Implements a phased assessment approach for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, with no students prevented from first grade enrollment based on assessment performance in 2025-2026.

• Mandates the State Department of Education develop an informational campaign promoting kindergarten enrollment, with priority given to areas with lowest current enrollment rates.