HI SB86

Requires children who are not attending private school or kindergarten and are at least 5 years old on August 1 to attend public school kindergarten, effective with the 2011-2012 school year.

Changes mandatory kindergarten attendance language from "may attend" to "shall attend" for eligible children.

Lowers the mandatory school attendance age from six years to five years old, applying to children who have reached age five on or before August 1 of any school year.

Maintains junior kindergarten as optional (non-mandatory) for children who will be five years old after August 1 and before January 1 of the school year.

Charter schools remain excluded from mandatory participation in the junior kindergarten program.