State Rep. Pebblin Warren (D-Tuskegee) has again introduced a bill that would make kindergarten mandatory in the state of Alabama.

Currently, state law only requires that children begin attending school at age six for first grade.

All children who are six-years-old on or before December 31 of a given year are entitled and required to enroll in the first grade for the start of that school year.

Warren’s bill, HB 208, would change this section of the law to mandate that all children who are five-years-old on or before September 1 of a given year enroll in kindergarten for the start of that school year. Early enrollment would be available via an approval process for children whose birthdays fall between September 1 and December 31 and that meet readiness guidelines. (more…)