Sec. 7. (a) In addition to the requirements of sections 4 through 6 of this chapter, a student must be at least five (5) years of age on August 1 of the school year to officially enroll in a kindergarten program offered by a school corporation. However, subject to subsection (c), the governing body of the school corporation may adopt a procedure affording a parent of a student who does not meet the minimum age requirement set forth in this subsection the right to appeal to the superintendent for enrollment of the student in kindergarten at an age earlier than the age set forth in this subsection.

(b) In addition to the requirements of sections 4 through 6 of this chapter and subsection (a), and subject to subsection (c), if a student enrolls in school as allowed under section 6 of this chapter and has not attended kindergarten, the superintendent shall make a determination as to whether the student shall enroll in kindergarten or grade 1 based on the particular model assessment adopted by the governing body under subsection (c).

(c) To assist the principal and governing bodies, the department shall do the following:

(1) Establish guidelines to assist each governing body that decides to adopt a procedure for making appeals to the superintendent under subsection (a).

(2) Establish criteria by which a governing body may adopt a model assessment that may be used in making the determination under subsection (b).

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-3-17(e), (f), (g).]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.246-2005, SEC.177; P.L.233-2015, SEC.246.