MS SB2300

Expands Mississippi's compulsory school attendance law to include kindergarten-age children beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, requiring five-year-olds to attend licensed public, parochial, or nonpublic school kindergarten programs.

Defines "compulsory-school-age child" to include children who have attained or will attain age five years on or before September 1 of the calendar year.

Requires parents, guardians, or custodians of kindergarten-age children to enroll them in and have them attend qualifying kindergarten programs, with the same enrollment deadlines and absence reporting requirements as existing compulsory attendance law.

Applies the same valid excuses for temporary nonattendance to kindergarten-age children as are currently available for school-age children, including illness, medical appointments, authorized school activities, and religious observances.

Subjects parents, guardians, or custodians who refuse or willfully fail to comply with kindergarten attendance requirements to charges of contributing to the neglect of a child and associated penalties under existing law.