State Kindergarten-Through-Third-Grade Policies
Does the state require children to attend kindergarten?
June 2018
This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations. A profile was sent to each state for review and modification, as needed.
| Does the state require children to attend kindergarten? | Citations | |
| Alabama | No | |
| Alaska | No | |
| Arizona | No | |
| Arkansas | Yes | Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-207, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-201 |
| California | No | |
| Colorado | No | |
| Connecticut | Yes | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 10-184, Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 10-15c |
| Delaware | Yes | Del. Code Ann. tit. 14, § 1049 |
| District of Columbia | Yes | D.C. Code Ann. § 38-202 |
| Florida | No | |
| Georgia | No | |
| Hawaii | Yes | Haw. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 302A-411 (West) |
| Idaho | No | Idaho Code Ann. § 33-208 (West) |
| Illinois | No | 105 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 5/10-20.12 |
| Indiana | No | Ind. Code Ann. § 20-33-2-8 (West) |
| Iowa | Not specified in statute, rules or regulations. | |
| Kansas | No | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-1171 (West) |
| Kentucky | No | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 158.030 (West) |
| Louisiana | Yes - or otherwise satisfactorily pass an academic readiness screening upon enrollment in grade 1. | La. Stat. Ann. § 17:151.3; 28 La. Admin. Code Pt CXV, 1107 |
| Maine | Not specified in statute, rules or regulations. | |
| Maryland | Yes | Md. Code Ann., Educ. § 7-301 (West) |
| Massachusetts | Not specified in statute, rules or regulations. | |
| Michigan | No | Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 380.1147 |
| Minnesota | No | Minn. Stat. Ann. § 120A.20 |
| Mississippi | Not specified in statute, rules or regulations. | |
| Missouri | No | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 160.053 |
| Montana | No | Mont. Code Ann. § 20-5-102 |
| Nebraska | No | Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 79-201; Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 79-214 |
| Nevada | Yes - or otherwise be assessed as prepared to enter grade 1. | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 392.040 |
| New Hampshire | No | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 193:1 |
| New Jersey | No- children are required to attend full-day kindergarten in Abbott Districts. | N.J. Admin. Code §6A:24-3.2 |
| New Mexico | Yes | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-1-2; N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-12-2 |
| New York | No - children are required to attend full-day kindergarten in Syracuse, New York City, Rochester, Utica, Buffalo, Cohoes, Watervliet, and Yonkers school districts. | N.Y. Educ. Law § 3205 |
| North Carolina | No- the initial entry point into school is kindergarten, but a principal may override this for an exceptionally mature student and place the child in grade 1 by the principal. | N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 115C-378; N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 115C-364 |
| North Dakota | No | |
| Ohio | Yes | Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3321.01 |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 70, § 10-105 |
| Oregon | No. | Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 336.095 |
| Pennsylvania | No | 24 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 5-503 |
| Rhode Island | Yes | 16 R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 16-2-28 |
| South Carolina | Yes | S.C. Code Ann. § 59-65-10 |
| South Dakota | Yes - all children must attend kindergarten before age 7. | S.D. Codified Laws § 13-27-1 |
| Tennessee | Yes | Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-201 |
| Texas | No | Tex. Educ. Code Ann. § 42.003 |
| Utah | No | Utah Code Ann. § 53A-3-402.7 |
| Vermont | No | |
| Virginia | Yes | Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-199 |
| Washington | No | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 28A.225.010 |
| West Virginia | Yes | W. Va. Code Ann. § 18-8-1a |
| Wisconsin | Yes - children must attend in districts that offer kindergarten. | Wis. Stat. Ann. § 118.33(6)(cm) |
| Wyoming | Not specified in statute, rules, or regulations. |
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