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21LSO-0278
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-0278
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0080
Kindergarten start date.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Duncan, Brown and Harshman and Senator(s) Kost and Schuler
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to education; amending the minimum school age; making conforming amendments; repealing a duty of the board of trustees in each school district; specifying legislative intent; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
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W.S. 21
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2
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704, 21
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4
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102(a)(intro), 21
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4
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301, 21
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4
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302(a) and (b) and 21
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13
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315(k), as amended by 2020 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 159, Section 1, are amended to read:
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2
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704.
School district responsibility.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this act, any preschool children with disabilities who are five (5) years of age on or before August 1
, or September 15 if pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxvii),
of the year in which they may register in kindergarten as provided in W.S. 21
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4
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302(b) and who are receiving services from a school district shall be the responsibility of that school district.
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4
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102.
When attendance required; exemptions; withdrawal.
(a)
Every parent, guardian or other person having control or charge of any child who is a resident of this state and whose seventh birthday falls on or before August 1
, or September 15 if the child started kindergarten pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxviii),
of any year and who has not yet attained his sixteenth birthday or completed the tenth grade shall be required to send such child to, and such child shall be required to attend, a public or private
school each year, during the entire time that the public schools shall be in session in the district in which the pupil resides; provided, that the board of trustees of each school district may exempt any child from the operation of this article when:
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4
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301.
Schools to be free and accessible to all children; minimum school year.
Except as otherwise provided by law, the public schools of each school district in the state shall at all times be equally free and accessible to all children resident therein of five (5) years of age as of August 1
, or September 15 if pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxviii),
of the year in which they may register in kindergarten as provided in W.S. 21
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4
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302(b) and under the age of twenty
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one (21), subject to regulations of the board of trustees. Each school district shall operate its schools and its classes for a minimum of one hundred seventy
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five (175) days each school year unless an alternative schedule has been approved by the state board. Prior to submission of a proposed alternative
schedule to the state board, the board of trustees shall hold at least two (2) advertised public meetings within the district, at which the board shall present the proposed alternative schedule and respond to public questions and comments. Any school district operating under an alternative schedule shall annually evaluate the effectiveness of that schedule in meeting the educational goals and purposes for which the schedule was adopted.
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4
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302.
Age for registration in first grade and kindergarten; preschool programs.
(a)
A pupil may register in the first grade in the public schools of this state in the year in which his sixth birthday falls on or before August 1
.
, or September 15 if the child started kindergarten pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxviii).
(b)
A pupil may register in kindergarten in the public schools of this state in the year in which his fifth birthday falls on or before August 1
.
, or September 15 if
pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxviii).
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13
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315.
Costs of court ordered placement of children in private residential treatment facilities, group homes, day treatment programs and juvenile detention facilities.
(k)
Except as otherwise provided by law, this section applies to children who are at least five (5) years of age as of August 1
, or September 15 if pursuant to an approved request under W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxviii),
of the year in which they may register in kindergarten as provided in W.S. 21
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4
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302(b) but who are under twenty
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one (21) years of age.
Section 2
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W.S. 21
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3
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110(a)(xxxviii), as amended by 2020 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 159, Section 1, is repealed
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Section 3
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It is the intent of the legislature that this act shall be applicable to the 2021
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2022 school year and to each school year thereafter.
Section 4.
This act is effective August 1, 2021
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(END)
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HB0080