GA SB438

Lowers Georgia's compulsory school attendance age from six years to five years, requiring children to attend public school, private school, or home study program beginning at age five instead of six

Mandates all children complete one full school year of kindergarten before enrolling in first grade

Requires all local school systems to offer full-day kindergarten programs (minimum 4.5 hours daily for 180 days), changing from optional ("may") to mandatory ("shall")

Children enrolled in public schools for 20 or more days before their fifth birthday (previously seventh) become subject to compulsory attendance laws

Effectiveness contingent upon specific appropriation of funds through a line item in a General Appropriations Act