MO HB674

Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, children in metropolitan school districts (St. Louis) and urban districts in home rule cities with over 400,000 inhabitants in multiple counties (Kansas City) must undergo a kindergarten readiness assessment the summer before they are eligible for kindergarten

If the district determines the child is ready, the parent must enroll the child in kindergarten; if not ready, the parent must enroll the child in an early childhood education program to prepare for kindergarten the following year

The kindergarten assessment and mandatory enrollment requirements do not apply to parents who intend to homeschool their children under the existing home school provisions

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must report to the Joint Committee on Education by November 1, 2018, on any academic performance effects attributable to lowering the mandatory enrollment age

The new kindergarten provisions automatically sunset six years after the effective date unless reauthorized by the General Assembly