Senate panel rejects kindergarten enrollment bill

LITTLE ROCK — A bill to force school districts to allow some Arkansas children who narrowly miss the age requirement for starting kindergarten to enroll anyway is effectively dead.

Republican Rep. Jana Della Rosa of Rogers said she doesn't plan to run the bill again after it failed to come up for a vote Monday at the Senate Education Committee.

Arkansas currently requires a child to be five years old before Aug. 1 to enroll. The bill would allow parents of a child who turns five before Sept. 1 to ask for an exception that the district would be required to meet if admittance doesn't put the class size at or near capacity.

Opponents say students should be as old as possible when starting school to ensure academic success.

Upcoming Events