The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has received and is currently receiving numerous inquiries regarding the minimum age requirement for enrollment into public school kindergarten.
As of the 1999 Legislative Session, a child must be five years of age on or before September 15th of the year in which they are seeking to enroll, to be eligible for kindergarten entry into public school. Beginning with school year 2000-2001 and thereafter, there will not be a waiver available for children whose fifth birthday occurs after September 15th. The state statute that governs this requirement is as follows:
6-18-207. MINIMUM AGE FOR ENROLLMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOL.
(a)(1) Students may enter kindergarten in the public schools of this state if they will attain the age of five (5) years on or before September 15th of the year in which they are seeking initial enrollment.
(2) Any student who has been enrolled in a state-accredited or state-approved kindergarten program in another state for at least sixty (60) days, who will become five (5) years old during the year in which he/she is enrolled in kindergarten, and who meets the basic residency requirement for school attendance may be enrolled in kindergarten upon written request to the school district.
(b)(1) Students may enter the first grade in public schools of this state if they will attain the age of six (6) years on or before October 1st of the school year in which they are seeking enrollment.
(2) Any child who has been enrolled in the first grade in a state-accredited or state-approved elementary school in another state for a period of at least sixty (60) days, who will become age six (6) years during the school year in which he is enrolled in grade one (1), and who meets the basic residency requirement for school attendance may be enrolled in the first grade.
Corresponding State Board approved Rules and Regulations are posted on the ADE Web site at arkedu.state.ar.us. The Rules and Regulations may be found on the State Board of Education page under Rules and Regulations-Administrative Issues-Compulsory Attendance. A flyer is enclosed for schools to share with other providers within the school's community and to distribute to parents through the children currently attending school.