DE HB317

Requires the Department of Education to adopt rules and regulations implementing a common statewide kindergarten readiness assessment tool to evaluate children's readiness for learning upon entering kindergarten.

Readiness tool must assess five domains: language and literacy development, cognition and general knowledge, approaches toward learning, physical well-being and motor development, and social and emotional development.

Readiness reviews must be completed within 30 school days of the start of school, with each kindergarten student assessed once during their kindergarten enrollment.

Implementation shall be phased in with first kindergarten classes completing reviews in Fall 2012, additional classes in Fall 2013 and 2014, achieving statewide implementation by Fall 2015.

Department regulations must address exceptions to the readiness tool requirement based on factors such as late student enrollment in kindergarten.