IL HB6223

School district boards must establish and maintain kindergarten in connection with public schools, removing the previous requirement for a petition from 50 parents and the "if funds are available" condition.

Boards must (rather than may) offer kindergarten with both half-day and full-day attendance options, with full-day kindergarten requiring simultaneous establishment of half-day kindergarten.

Compulsory school attendance age lowered from 7-17 years to 5-17 years, making kindergarten attendance mandatory for children age 5 and older.

Section 26-2 updated to reflect the new compulsory attendance age of 5 (previously 7) for children enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12.

Act takes effect August 1, 2010.