A. Each city, parish, and other local public school board shall provide for and offer, in every school having a first grade or in a kindergarten center, full-day kindergarten instruction to each child who turns five years of age on or before September thirtieth of the calendar year in which the school year begins.

            B. However, each city, parish, and other local public school board, by rule, may provide for a child younger than the age prescribed by Subsection A of this Section to enter kindergarten, provided that the child has been evaluated and identified as gifted in accordance with the regulations of the state Department of Education. A child admitted to kindergarten pursuant to this Subsection shall be eligible to enter first grade upon successful completion of kindergarten, provided all other applicable entrance requirements have been fulfilled.

            C.(1)(a) For the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, a child, as a prerequisite to enrollment in the first grade of a public school, shall have attended at least a full-day public or nonpublic kindergarten for a full school year, or shall have satisfactorily passed an academic readiness screening administered by the city, parish, or other local public school board prior to the time of enrollment in the first grade. Each city, parish, or other local public school board shall establish the academic readiness level for entry into the first grade.

            (b) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, a child, as a prerequisite to enrollment in the first grade of a public school, shall have attended a full-day public or nonpublic kindergarten for a full school year, and shall have satisfactorily passed an academic readiness screening administered by the city, parish, or other local public school board prior to the time of enrollment in the first grade. Each city, parish, or other local public school board shall establish the academic readiness level for entry into the first grade.

            (2) A child transferring into the first grade of a public school from out of state who does not meet the requirements as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for kindergarten attendance shall be required to satisfactorily pass an academic readiness screening administered by the city, parish, or other local public school board prior to the time of enrollment for the first grade.

            (3) A child not able to meet the kindergarten attendance requirements as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection due to illness or extraordinary, extenuating circumstances as determined by the city, parish, or other local public school board shall be required to satisfactorily pass an academic readiness screening administered by the city, parish, or other local public school board prior to the time of enrollment in the first grade.

            D.(1) For the 2021-2022 school year, the parent or legal guardian of a child who is eligible, as provided in Subsection A of this Section, to attend full-day kindergarten, as a prerequisite to enrollment in any first grade of a public school, shall send the child to attend public or nonpublic full-day kindergarten, or ensure that the child is administered an academic readiness screening as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

            (2)(a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the parent or legal guardian of a child who is eligible, as provided in Subsection A of this Section, to attend full-day kindergarten shall send the child to a public or nonpublic kindergarten in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. 17:221.

            (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section or any other provision of law to the contrary, a parent or legal guardian shall have the option to defer enrolling his child in kindergarten for one year if either of the following applies:

            (i) The child is four years of age on the first day of the school year.

            (ii) The child is enrolled in a prekindergarten program.

            (c) A parent or legal guardian who opts to defer enrolling his child in kindergarten pursuant to Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph shall not be considered to be in noncompliance with the compulsory school attendance law.

            (3) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit a child from being enrolled in and attending kindergarten in a home study program.

            Acts 1988, No. 435, §1, eff. July 1, 1988; Acts 1988, No. 906, §1, eff. July 26, 1988; Acts 1993, No. 530, §1; Acts 2021, No. 386, §1, eff. June 16, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1; Acts 2022, No. 414, §1, eff. June 15, 2022.