00                            SENATE BILL NO. 41                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to kindergarten programs and compulsory education; and providing                                       
02 for an effective date."                                                                                                 
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 14.03.060(a) is amended to read:                                                                  
05            (a)  An elementary school consists of grades kindergarten through [GRADE]                                    
06       eight or any appropriate combination of grades within this range.  Each school                                
07       district shall offer a kindergarten program.                                                                  
08    * Sec. 2.  AS 14.03.070 is amended to read:                                                                        
09            Sec. 14.03.070.  School age.  A child who is five [SIX] years of age before                            
10       August 15 following the beginning of the school year, and who is under the age of 20                              
11       and has not completed the 12th grade, is of school age.                                                           
12    * Sec. 3.  AS 14.03.080(d) is amended to read:                                                                     
13            (d)  A child who is five years of age before August 15 following the beginning                               
14       of the school year shall [, AND WHO IS UNDER SCHOOL AGE, MAY] enter a                                         

01       public school kindergarten, unless the child is exempt from public school                                     
02       attendance under AS 14.30.010.                                                                                
03    * Sec. 4.  AS 14.30.010(a) is amended to read:                                                                     
04            (a)  Every child who has reached the minimum school age under                                            
05       AS 14.03.070 [BETWEEN SEVEN] and who is not yet 16 years of age shall attend                              
06       school at the public school in the district in which the child resides during each school                         
07       term.  Every parent, guardian or other person having the responsibility for or control                            
08       of a child who has reached the minimum school age under AS 14.03.070                                          
09       [BETWEEN SEVEN] and who is not yet 16 years of age shall maintain the child in                                
10       attendance at a public school in the district in which the child resides during the entire                        
11       school term, except as provided in (b) of this section.                                                           
12    * Sec. 5.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2001.