Public elementary school, admittance of children to kindergarten and first grade, demonstration of first grade readiness

This bill updates Alabama's public school admission rules to allow children to enter kindergarten or first grade based on demonstrated readiness rather than age alone. It permits children who turn five or six by the start of the school year to skip kindergarten if they pass a state-approved assessment showing they are ready for the next grade level. The law also allows younger children to enroll in kindergarten or first grade if they transfer from another state or meet specific local criteria set by school boards. While the bill changes eligibility requirements, it includes a provision ensuring that school districts do not lose funding for teachers as a result of these enrollment changes.