A.  The governing authority of each public school offering kindergarten classes shall require that every child entering kindergarten for the first time be given a valid and reliable readiness assessment.  The results of this assessment shall be used for measuring student readiness for kindergarten and for planning instruction.  

B.  The state Department of Education shall review, in consultation with the Child Care Association of Louisiana, the Louisiana Head Start Association, and BrightStart, Louisiana’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, the available valid and reliable individually administered readiness tests and shall recommend to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education tests acceptable for use as provided in this Section.

C.  Each child entering kindergarten for the first time shall be assessed at the beginning of the school year.  The parent or guardian of each child shall be advised of the nature of the child’s level of readiness.

D.  Each public school governing authority shall report to the state Department of Education assessment results by school on an annual basis by December first of each year as required by the state Department of Education.

E.  The state shall pay the cost of state required assessment materials and reporting required by law or regulation pursuant to this Section.

Acts 1985, No. 257, §1, eff. July 6, 1985; Acts 1986, No. 146, §1, eff. July 2, 1986; Acts 1986, No 407, §1; Acts 1989, No. 241, §1, eff. June 26, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 478, §1; Acts 2011, No. 249, §1.

NOTE:  SEE ACTS 1986, NO. 146, §4.

NOTE:  See Acts 2011, No. 249, §2, relative to implementation of Section as funds are available and full implementation by the 2015-2016 school year.