Kindergarten Requirements for the State of Alabama
Early education is a priority in the state of Alabama, which is why full-day kindergarten programs are required to be offered by every district. This is reflected in Alabama’s high level of full-day kindergarten attendance, which as of 2015 stands at 90 percent or above. Here are the top laws and requirements in place for students entering kindergarten in the state of Alabama.
Kindergarten Not Mandatory
In the state of Alabama, kindergarten attendance is not mandatory. However, Alabama requires that all school systems must offer kindergarten programs.
Full-Day Kindergarten Required
Alabama school districts are required by state statute to fund full-day kindergarten for all eligible students, and within the statute, full-day kindergarten is defined as 6 hours per day. According to an Education Week study published in 2015, 90 percent or above of Alabama’s kindergarten students were enrolled in full-day programs.
Educational Standards: Common Core
The state of Alabama adopted Common Core standards in November 2010, with full implementation occurring in the 2013–2014 school year. These standards were developed by state leaders from 48 states, 2 territories, and the District of Columbia, and set learning goals for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade in English language arts and mathematics. Kindergarten learning expectations in Alabama are aligned with elementary and secondary standards.
Current Age Requirements
According to Alabama state statute, in order to attend kindergarten, a child must have turned five years of age on or before September 1 of that same school year. The compulsory school age for children in the state is 6 years old.
Early Entry Rules
In Alabama, early entry to kindergarten is not an option. The only exception would be an underage child who transfers from the public school kindergarten in another state. That child may be admitted to local public kindergarten in Alabama if the local school board or board of education approves it and if there is space available in the classroom.
Required Immunizations and Available Exemptions
In order to attend school in Alabama, students must have proof of all required immunizations (or a valid exemption as discussed below). Required immunizations include DTaP, polio, MMR, and varicella. See the list of require vaccinations here.
In the absence of an epidemic or immediate threat, religious immunization exceptions are available in Alabama. Parents must simple state in writing that they object to immunization requirements because they conflict with their religious tenets and practices. Medical exemptions are also allowed.
Pre-Entrance Testing/Screening Requirements
Although there are no specified assessment protocols listed in the state statute in Alabama, the Alabama Department of Education distributes to school districts the Alabama Kindergarten Sourcebook, which explicitly lists the benefits of assessments prior to kindergarten entry and throughout the year, as well as recommended assessment tools that can be used by districts and teachers.
Kindergarten Schedules
According to Alabama state statute, the beginning and ending times of the school day in kindergarten classrooms should be the same as the schedule of the rest of the elementary school in which that program takes place.
Maximum Teacher to Pupil Ratio
The most current statutory provisions that are in place set class sizes at 18 for every one teacher in the classroom at the kindergarten through third grade level.
All of these laws and requirements are reviewed in great detail on the Alabama State Department of Education website.